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JUN  11  1952 


DOCTRINE 


:ONSTITUT!ON  AND  DISCIPLINE, 


/ 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


DAYTON,  OHIO. 

rUINTED    AT    THE    CONFERENCE   OFFICE. 

1854. 


ORIGIN 

OF  THE 
UNITED  BEETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 

In  the  eighieenth  century  it  pleased 
the  Lord  our  God  to  awaken  persons  in 
ditlereni  parts  of  the  world,  who  should 
raise  up  the  Christian  religion  from  its 
fallen  state,  and  preach  the  gospel  of 
Christ  crucified  in  its  purity. 

About  the  middle  of  the  said  century, 
the  Lord,  in  mercy,  remembered  the 
Germans  in  America,  who,  living  scat- 
tered in  this  extensive  country,  had  but 
seldom  an  opportunity  to  hear  the  gos- 
pel of  a  crucified  Saviour  preached  to 
them  in  their  native  language. 

Among  others',  he  raised  William 
Ottebein  and  Martin  Boehm.  in  the 
stale  of  Pensylvania,  and  George  A. 
Geeting  in  the  state  of  Maryland, — 
armed  them  with  spirit,  grace  and 
strength,  to  labor  in  his  neglected  vine- 
(3) 


4  UNITED     BRETHREN 

yard,  and  to  call  among  the  Germans  in 
America,  sinners  to  repentance.  These 
men  obeyed  the  call  of  their  Lord  and 
Master;  their  labors  were  blest;  they 
established  in  many  places,  excellent 
socieiies,  and  led  many  precious  souls 
to  Jesus  Christ.  Their  sphere  of  action 
spread  more  and  more,  so  that  they 
found  it  necessary  to  look  about  for 
more  fellow-laborers  to  engyge  in  the 
vineyard  of  the  Lord,  for  the  harvest 
was  great  and  the  laboreis  bat  few.  The 
Lord  called  others,  who  were  willing  to 
devote  their  strength  to  his  service;  such, 
then,  were  accepted  by  one  or  other 
of  the  preachers  as  fellow-laborers. 

The  number  of  members  in  ihe  so- 
ciety in  different  parts  of  the  country, 
continued  to  increase  from  time  to  time; 
and  the  gracious  work  of  reformation 
spread  through  the  states  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, Maryland,  and  Virginia.  Several 
great  meetings  were  appointed  and  held 
annually;  when  on  such  occasions,  Ot- 
terbein  would  hold    particular  coversa- 


DISCIPLINE.  5 

tions  with  the  preachers  then  present, 
represent  to  them  the  importance  of  the 
ministry,  and  the  necessity  of  their  ut- 
most endeavors  to  save  souls.  At  one 
of  these  meetings,  it  was  resolved  to 
hold  a  conference  with  all  the  preach- 
ers, in  order  to  take  into  consideration, 
how,  and  in  what  manner  they  mij^ht  be 
most  useful. 

The  first  Conference  was  held  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  in    the  year    of 
our  Lord  1789,     The  following  preach- 
lers  were  present,  viz*: 
IWm.  Otterbein,         Adam  Lehman, 
IMartin  Bof.hm,  John  Ernst, 

IGeo.  a.  Geeting,        Henry  Weidinek, 
Christian  Newcomer. 

The  second  Conference  was  held  in 
Paradise  township,  York  Co.,  Pa.,  at 
the  house  of  Br.  Spangler,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  lYQl.  The  following 
preachers  were  present,  viz.: 
Wm.  Otterbein,  John  Ernst, 
Martin  Boehm,  J.  G.  Pfrimmer, 

Geo.  a.  Geetinq,       Joun  Neidig, 


6  united  brethren 

Ch'n  Newcomer,       Benedict  Sander, 
Adam  Lehman. 

Afier  mature  Lielibpraiion  how  ihey 
might  labor  most  usefully  in  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord,  they  again  appoinied 
such  as  fellow-laborers  whom  they  had 
cause  to  believe  had  experienced  true 
religion  in  their  own  souls. 

In  the  meantime,  the  number  of  mem- 
bers continued  to  increase,  and  the 
preachers  were  obliged  to  appoint  an 
Annual  Conference,  in  order  to  unite 
themselves  more  closely,  and  to  labor 
more  sucessfully  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord;  for  some  had  been  Presbyterians 
or  German  Reformed;  some  Lutherans, 
and  others  Menonites.  They  accord- 
ingly appointed  a  Conference  to  be  held 
on  the  25ih  of  September,  1800,  in 
Frederick  Co.,  Md.,  at  the  house  of  Br. 
Frederick  Kemp.  The  following  preach- 
ers were  present,  viz: 
Wm.  Otterbein,  Christian  Krum, 
Martin  Boehm,  Henry  Krum, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        John  Hershey, 


discipline.  7 

Ch'n  Newcomer,         Jacob  Geisinger, 
Adam  Lehman,  Henry  Boehm, 

Abra'm  Tracksel,     Diet'k  Auraf, 
J.  G.  Pfrimmer. 

There  they  united  Jhemselves  inco  a 
society  which  bears  the  name,  "UNI- 
TED BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST,"  and 
elected  Wm.  Otterbein  and  Martin 
Boehm,  as  Superintendents  or  Bishops, 
and  agreed  that  each  of  iheni  should  be 
at  liberty  as  lo  the  naode  and  manner  of 
baptism,  to  perform  it  according  to  his 
own  convictions. 

From  this  time,  the  society  increasing 
still  more  and  more,  preachers  were 
appointed  to  travel  regularly,  inasmuch 
as  the  number  of  preaching  places  could 
not  otherwise  be  attended  to;  and  the 
work  spread  itself  into  the  states  of 
Ohio  and  Kentucky.  It  then  became 
necessary  to  appoint  a  Conference  in  the 
State  of  Ohio,  because  it  was  conceived 
too  laborious  for  the  preachers  who  la- 
bored in  those  states  to  travel,  annually, 
such  a  great  distance  to  Conference. 


^  UNITED    BRETIfP-EN 

In  the  meantime,  Brothers  Boehm 
and  Geeiingdied,  and  brother  Otlerbain 
desired  that  another  bishop  should  be 
elected  (because  infirmity  and  old  age 
would  not  permit  him  to  superintend  any 
longer,)  who  should  t;ike  charge  of  the 
society,  and  preserve  diseipline  and  or- 
der. It  was  resolved  at  a  former  Con- 
ference, that  whenever  one  of  ihe  bish- 
ops died;  another  should  be  elected  in 
his  place:  accordingly  brother  Christian 
Newcomer  was  elected  bishop,  to  take 
charge  of  and  superintend  the  concerns 
of  the  society. 

The  want  of  a  Discipline  in  the  So- 
ciety bad  long  been  deeply  felt,  and 
partial  attempts  having  been  made  at 
different  times,  it  was  resolved  at  the 
Conference  held  in  the  State  of  Ohio, 
that  a  general  Conference  should  be  held 
in  order  to  accomplish  the  same,  in  a 
manner  not  dero.'^jatory  lo  the  word  of 
God.  The  members  of  this  Conference 
were  to  be  elected  from  among  the 
preachers  in  the  different  parts  of  the 


DISOIPLIX    E.  y 

couniry,    by  a  vote    of  the    society    in 
general.     The  following    brethren  were 
duly  elected,  viz.: 
Cii'n  Newcomer,  Daniel  Trover, 

Abr'M    HlESTAND,  GeO.    BeNEDUM, 

Andrew  Zej.lek,  Abr'm  Tracksel, 

Christian   Berger,         Henry  G.  Spaytii, 

AbrAIIAJI    MyER,  I.    NiGHSWANGER, 

John  Schneider,  Christian  Krum, 

Henry  Kumler,  Jacob  Bowlus. 

The  Conference  convened  on  the  6th 
of  June  1815,  near  Mount  Pleasant, 
Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.  After  mature 
deliberation,  they  presented  to  their 
'  brethren  a  Discipline,  containing  the 
i  doctrine  and  rules  of  the  church,  desi- 
ring tbct  they,  together  with  the  word  of 
God,  should  be  strictly  observed. 

God  is  a  God  of  order,  but  v.'here 
there  is  no  order  nor  church  Discipline, 
the  spirit  of  love  and  charity  will  be 
lost. 

Therefore,  brethren,  we  beseech  you 
to  follow  the  example  of  our  Lord:  as 
it  is  written,  "Be  kindly  affectioned  one 
to  another,  with  brotherly  love,  in  honor 


10  UKITED    BRETHREN 

preferring  one  another.  Let  the  mind 
be  in  you  which  was  in  Christ,  who 
took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant, 
humbled  himself,  and  became  obedient 
unto  df^ath,  even  the  death  of  ihe  cross,"" 
that  by  his  grace  we  may  submit  our- 
selves one  to  another  in  the  fear  of  God, 
fie  who  will  not  submit  is  in  want  of 
humble  love.  Jesus  said,  "Whosoever 
will  be  chief  among  you,  let  him  be 
your  servant.  By  this  shall  all  men 
know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye 
have  love  one  to  another;  and  whoso 
loveth  not  his  brother  abideth  in  death." 
Let  us  walk  in  newness  of  life,  that  the 
prayer  of  our  Lord  may  be  answered  in 
us:  that  we  may  be  one  in  him,  and 
that  he  may  give  us  the  glory  which  he 
gave  to  hisdisciples,  that  we  maybeone 
even  as  He  and  the  Father  are  one. — 
Therefore,  beloved  brethren,  let  us 
strive  to  be  like-minded,  having  the 
same  love,  being  of  one  accord,  of  one 
mind.  Let  no  one  speak  or  think  evil 
of  his   brother,   but  pray    God  that    he 


DISCIPLINE.  11 

may  grant  us  His  Spirit  and  an  earnest 
desire  to  lead  a  truly  devoted  life,  to  the 
honor  and  glory  of  his  Holy  name. 
Amen. 


12  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION    I. 

Confession  of  Faith. 

In  the  name  of  God  we  declare  and 
confess  before  all  men,  that  we  believe 
in  the  only  true  God,  the  Father,  the 
Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  these 
three  are  one,  the  Father  in  the  Son, 
the  Son  in  the  Father,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost  equal  in  essence  or  being  with 
both;  that  this  triune  God  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  and  all  that  in 
them  is,  visible  ns  well  as  invisible,  and 
furihermore  sustains,  governs,  protects 
and  supports  the  same. 

We  believe  in  Jesus  Chrisi;  that  He 
is  very  God  and  man;  that  he  became 
incarnate  by  the  pov/er  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  in  the  virgin  Mary,  and  was  born 
of  her;  that  he  is  the  Saviour  and  Medi- 
ator of  the  whole  human  race,  if  they 
with  full  faith  in  him,  accept  the  grace 
proffered  in  Jesus;  that  this  Jesus  suf- 
fered and  died  on  the  cross   for  us,  was 


DISCll'LINE.  13 

buried,  arose  again  on  the  third  day, 
ascended  into  heaven,  and  siiieth  on 
the  right  hand  of  God,  to  intercede  for 
us;  and  that  he  shall  come  again  at  the 
last  day,  to  judge  ilie  q-iick  and  ihe  dead. 

We  believe  in  ihe  Holy  Ghost;  ihat 
he  is  equal  in  being  with  the  Father  and 
the  Son,  and  that  he  comforts  the  faith- 
ful and  guides  them  into  all  truth. 

We  believe  in  a  holy  christian  church, 
the  communion  of  saints,  the  resurrec- 
tion of  the  bod},  and  life  everlasting. 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible,  Old 
and  New  Testament,  is  the  word  of  God; 
that  it  contains  the  only  true  way  to  our 
salvation;  that  every  true  christian  is 
bound  to  acknowledge  and  receive  it 
with  the  influence  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 
as  the  only  rule  and  guide;  and  thai 
without  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  true  re- 
j)entance,  forgivness  of  sins,  and  follow- 
ing after  Christ,  no  one  can  be  a  true 
christian. 

We  also  believe  that  what  is  contain- 
ed in  ti.e  Holy  Scriptures,   to  wii:   the 


14  UNITED  BRETHREN 

fall  in  Adam  and  redemption  through 
Jesus  Christ,  shall  be  preached  through- 
out the  world. 

We  believe  that  the  ordinances,  viz: 
baptism  and  the  remembrance  of  the 
sufferings  and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  are  to  be  in  use,  and  practised 
by  all  christian  socieiies;  and  that  it  is 
incumbent  on  all  the  children  of  God, 
particularly  to  practice  them;  but  the 
manner  in  which  ought  always  to  be 
left  to  the  judgement  and  imdersianding 
of  every  individual.  Also  the  example 
of  washing  feet  is  left  to  the  judgement 
of  every  one,  to  practice  or  iiot;  but  it 
is  noi  becoming  for  any  of  our  preach- 
ers or  members  to  traduce  any  of  their 
brethren  whose  judgement  and  under- 
standing in  this  respect  is  different  from 
their  ov/n,  either  in  public  or  private. 
Whosoever  shall  make  himself  guilty  in 
this  respect,  shall  be  considered  a  tra- 
ducer  of  his  brethren,  and  shall  be  an- 
swerable for  the  same. 


SECTION  II. 

CONSTITUTION. 

We  the  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST, 
in  the  name  of  God,  do,  for  the  per- 
fecting of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of 
Christ,  as  well  as  to  produce  and  secure 
a  uniform  mocle  of  action,  in  faith  and 
practice,  also  to  define  the  powers  and 
the  business  of  Quarterly,  Annual  and 
General  Conferences,  as  recognized  by 
this  church,  ordain  the  following  articles 
of  CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  I. 

Section  1.  All  ecclesiastical  power 
herein  granted,  to  make  or  repeal  any 
rule  of  Discipline,  is  vested  in  a  Gen- 
eral Conference,  which  shall  consist  of 
elders,  elected  by  the  members  in  every 
Conference  District  throughout  the  So- 
(15) 


16  UNITED    BRETIIUEN 

cieiy;  provided,  however,  such  ElderS' 
shall  have  stood  in  that  capacity  three 
years,  in  the  Conference  District  lo 
wiiich    ihey  belong. 

iSec.  2.  General  Conference  is  to  be 
held  every  four  years;  the  Bishops  to 
be  considered  members,  and  prebiding 
officers. 

Sec.  3.  Each  Annual  Conference 
shall  place  before  the  society  the  names 
of  all  the  Elders  eligible  to  membership 
in  the  General  Conference. 

ARTICLE    II. 

Section  1.  The  General  Conference 
shall  define  the  boundaries  of  the  Annu- 
al Conferences. 

Sec.  2.  The  General  Conference 
shall  at  every  session,  elect  Bishops 
from  among  the  elders  throughout  the 
church,  v;ho  have  stood  six  years  in 
thai  capacity. 

Sec.  3.  Tiie  bu&iness  of  each  Annual 
Conference    shall  be    done  strictly  ac« 


DISCIPLINE.  It 

cording  to  Discipline;  and  any  Annual 
Conference  acting  contrary  thereunto, 
shall,  by  impeachment,  be  tried  by  ihe 
General  Conference. 

Sec.  4.  No  rule  or  ordinance  shall  at 
any  time  be  passed,  to  change  or  do 
away  the  Confession  of  faiih  as  it  now 
stands,  norto  destroy  the  intinerant plan. 

Sec.5.  There  shall  no  rule  be  adopt- 
ed that  will  infringe  upon  the  rights  of 
any  as  it  relates  to  the  mode  of  baptism, 
the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  or 
the  washing  of  feet. 

Sec,  6.  There  shall  be  no  rule  made 
that  will  deprive  local  preachers  of  their 
votes  in  the  Annual  Conferences  to  which 
they  severally  belong. 

Sec.  V.  There  shall  be  no  connection 
with  secret  combinations,  nor  shall  in- 
voluntary servitude  be  tolerated  in  any 
way. 

Sec.  8,  The  right  of  appeal  shall  be 
inviolate. 


(«) 


18  UNITED    BRETHREN 

ARTICLE  !II. 

Tho  right,  liile,  interest,  and  claim  of. 
all  property,  whether  consisting  in  lots 
of  ground,  meeting  houses,  legacies, 
bequests  or  donations  of  any  kind,  ob- 
tained by  purchase  or  otherwise,  by  any 
person  or  persons,  for  the  use,  benefit, 
and  behoaf  of  the  church  of  ihe  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,  is  hereby  fully  re- 
cognized and  held  to  be  the  property  of 
the  Church  aforesaid. 

ARTICLE    IV, 

There  shall  be  no  alteration  of  the 
foregoing  Constitution,  unless  by  request 
of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  society. 

May   19,  1841.- 

SECTION    III. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

Question.  1.  Who  are    the  niembers 
of  the  General  Conference? 
03"  iSee  Constitution, 


DISCIPLINE.  19 

Ques.  2.   How  are  they  to  be  elected? 

Arts.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  ofeach 
Annual  Conference  lo  appoint  a  com- 
mittee of  three,  to  receive  and  count  the 
voles,  and  immediately  apprise  those 
who  may  have  been  elected;  also  to 
furnish  each  preacher  in  charge  with  a 
list  of  the  names  of  all  the  Elders  eli- 
gible. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge,  shall 
furnish  each  class-leader  or  steward,  in 
his  charge  with  a  copy  of  the  above 
named  list,  at  least  ten  months  before 
the  sitting  of  General  Conference,  and 
the  election  shall  be  held  invariably 
within  the  first  ten  days  of  November, 
next  preceeding  the  sitting  of  said  Con'- 
ference. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  ofeach  class 
leader  or  steward,  to  appoint  a  meeting 
of  the  members  of  his  class,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing,  by  ballot  or  other- 
wise, their  delegates  to  represent  them 
in  General  Conference.  Should  any 
be  incapacitated  by  affliction  or  age  to 


20  UNITED    BRETHREN 

attend  such  meetings,  they  may  send 
their  ballots,  containing  the  names  of 
the  candidates  of  their  choice,  and  their 
own  names  signed  on  the  back  of  their 
ballots. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  class- 
leader  or  steward,  to  sign,  enclose  and 
seal  each  bill  of  election,  and  keep  a 
correct  copy  of  the  same,  slating  what 
class  and  circuit,  and  immediately  trans- 
mit it  (prepaid)  to  the  committee  appoint- 
ed by  the  annual  con  Terence. 

6.  Said  committee  shall  make  out  a  list 
of  all  the  persons  voted  for,  and  of  the 
number  of  votes  for  each.  And  should 
any  two  or  more  of  the  candidates  have 
an  equal  number  of  votes,  the  com- 
mittee shall  determine,  by  lot,  who  of 
them  is  elected.  They  shall  also  for- 
ward by  the  first  of  January,  the  names 
of  those  elected,  to  the  Conference 
Printing  Establishment  for  publication; 
and  if  one  or  more  of  those  elected 
should  be  prevented,  by  death,  sicknesi 
or  otherwise  from  attending,  it  ehall  be 


DISCIPLINE.  21 

the  duty  of  the  tellers  to  notify  the  next 
highest  on  ihe  bill  to  take  his  place,  and 
so  descend,  if  need  be,  to  the  last  candi- 
date. All  bills  of  election  received  by 
the  tellers  after  the  first  day  of  January 
shall  not  be  counted. 

Ques.  3.  What  shall  be  the  number 
of  delegates  to  General  Conference? 

Ans.  Three  from  each  Annual  Con- 
ference district. 

Ques.  4  How  shall  the  expenses  of 
the  delegates  to  the  General  Conference 
be  defrayed? 

Ans.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall 
lift  a  collection  on  his  first  round  after 
the  election,  at  each  class,  and  immedi- 
ately transmit  the  money  thus  collect- 
ed to  the  tellers,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  convey  it  to  the  delegates  elected. 
Should  any  preacher  neglect  this  duty, 
he  shall  be  accountable  therefore  to  the 
next  Annual  Conference. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Gener- 
al Conferance  to  examine  the  admin- 
istration of  each   Annual   Conference, 


22  UNITED    BRETHREN 

whether  it  has  strictly  observed  the 
rules  and  preserved  the  moral  and  doc- 
trinal principles  of  the  discipline  in  all 
its  transactions. 

In  the  election  of  all  officers  of 
the  General  Conference,  a  majority  of 
all  the  votes  shall  be  necessary  to  a 
choice. 

SECTION    IV. 

ANNUAL   CONrBRENCE. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of 
this  Conference.? 

Jlns,  All  the  Elders  and  licentiate 
preachers,  who  have  been  duly  received 
by  the  Conference. 

Ques.  2.  In  what  manner  are  the 
transactions  of  a  Conference  to  be  con- 
ducted? 

Ans.  1.  A  portion  of  Scripture  shall 
be  read;  also  singing  and  prayer  each 
day,  at  the  opening  and  at  the  closing 
of  Conference, 


DISCIPLINE.  25 

2.  The  Conference  shall  elect  two 
Secretaries — one  German  and  one  Eng- 
lish, wherever  it  may  be  necessary. 
And  when  but  one  Bishop  is  present,  the 
Conference  shall  elect  a  chairman  by 
ballot  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the 
Bishop.  If  no  Bishop  should  be  pres- 
ent, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Annual 
Conference  to  elect  a  Bishop  ^;7-o  iem^ 
whose  official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

3.  The  preachers  shall  be  examined 
respecting  their  deportment  towards 
their  fellow-beings,  whether  their  con- 
duct in  life  be  blameless,  and  v^hether 
they  employ  as  much  time  as  practica- 
ble to  promote  the  kingdom  of  God;  ac- 
cording to  Titus,  1st  chap.,  7ih  to  9ih 
verse,  and  2nd  Tim.,  2nd  chap.,  15ih 
verse;  and  shall  be  admonished  or  ad- 
vised as  the  case  may  require.  But  should 
all  admonition  or  advice  fail  in  any  case, 
then  the  name  of  the  delinquent  person 
shall  be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the 
Conference. 

4.  Should  any  member    of  the  An- 


24  UNITED   BRETHREN 

nual  Conference  absent  himself  from 
the  session  of  conference  three  years  in 
auccession,  without  giving  a  satisfactory 
reason  for  so  doing,  his  name  may  be 
erased  from  the  minutes  of  conference. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted 
to  electioneer  favorably  to  his  own  elec- 
tion to  any  office  or  delegation  in  the 
church,  and  should  any  be  found  doing 
so,  he  shall  be  accountable  to  the  next 
Annual  Conference  of  which  bo  is  a 
member,  to  be  dealt  with  according  to 
the  judgment  of  said  conference. 

The  following  questions  shall  then  be 
aslied: 

1.  Have  any  of  the  preachers  died 
during  the  last  year? 

2.  Who  aie  the  candidates  for  the 
ministry? 

3.  Are  any  to  be  ordained  to  the  of 
fice  of  Elder? 

4.  What  has  been  collected  for  con- 
tingent expenses  and  the  salary  of  trav- 
eling preachers? 

5.  What  has  been  done  for  missions? 


DISCIPLINE.  25 

6.  What  has  been  done  for  Sabbath 
schools? 

7.  Has  reckoning  been  made  with 
the  traveling  preachers? 

8.  Have  ihey  received  their  dues? 

9.  Who  are  the  Presiding  Elders? 

10.  Where  are  the  preachers  sta- 
tioned this  year? 

11.  Where  shall  our  next  Confer- 
ence be  held? 

12.  Is  there  anything  else  to  be 
done? 

13.  Is  all  that  has  been  done  enter- 
ed upon  record? 

SECTION   V. 

RECEPTION  OF  PREACHERS. 

Ques.  1.  How  are  the  preachers 
received? 

Ans.  Every  person  proposed  as  a 
preacher  shall  be  examined  by  the  Con- 
ference, or  a  select  committee;  and  the 
following  questions  shall  be  put  to  him, 
viz: 


26  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Have  you  known  God  in  Christ  Jesus 
to  be  a  sin-pardoning  God? 

Have  you  now  peace  with  God,  and 
is  tbe  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  your 
heart  by  the  Holy  Spirit? 

Do  you  follow  after  holiness? 

Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the 
word  of  God;  and  that  therein  is  Con- 
tained the  true  way  lo  our  salvation? 

What  foundation  have  you  for  that 
belief? 

What  is  your  motive  fordesiring  per- 
mission to  preach  the  gospel? 

Do  you  believe  in  tl  e  doctrine  of  nat- 
ural, hereditary,  complete  depravity,  as 
held  by  the  church?"^ 

What  is    vour  knowledge  of  faiih,  of 


*  1.  By  Depravity  is  meant,  not  guilt  or  lialnlity 
to  punishment,  but  tlie  absence  of  lioliness  which 
therefore  unfits  man  for  heaven.  2.  By  natural 
is  meant  that  man  is  born  with  this  abscnse  of  ho- 
liness. 3.  By  HEREniTARY  is  meant  that  this  ur,h«ly 
state  is  inherited  from  Adam.  4.  By  compete 
j-;  not  .meant  that  a  man  or  child  cannot  become 
more  unholy, or  thathe  is  irrecoverably  unholy,  nor 
that  he  is  a  mass  of  corruption,  but  that  this  ab- 
sense  of  holiness,  must  be  predicated  ol  all  the 
faculties  and  powers  of  the  soul. 


DISCIPLINE.  2 . 

repentance,  justification,  sanctification, 
and  redemption? 

Does  your  own  slavution,  and  the  sal- 
vation of  your  fellow  mortals,  lie  near- 
er to  yrur  heart  ihan  all  other  things  in 
the  world? 

Can  you  sbjoct  yourseli'to  the  coun- 
sel of  your  brethren? 

Are  you  saiisfied  with  our  church 
government? 

Will  you  be  obedient  and  ready  to 
spe;ik  or  hold  your  peace,  as  your  breth- 
ren may  think  expedient? 

Are  you  willing  as  much  as  is  in  your 
power,  to  assist  in  upholding  the  iiine- 
rant  plan,  and  supporting  the  same  as 
much  as    pos--ii)le? 

■[[  None  can  be  admitted  without  hav- 
ing a  recommendation  from  the  Quar- 
terly Conference,  and  then  only  to  be 
received  on  probation;  but  if  confer- 
ence should  on  examination,  find  that 
his  abilities  are  insufficient  to  preach 
the  gospel,  it  may  refer  him  back  to  the 
Quarterly    Conference   for   further  in- 


9^ 


UNITED   BRETHREN 


|ion,  or   reject   him,  as   the   case 
may  require, 

SECTION    VI. 

COURSE  OF  READING  AND  STUDY, 

For  Licentiate  preachers,  upon  which 
they  shall  be  examined  by  the  several 
Annual  Conferences  to  which  they  be- 
long. 

FIRST  YEAR — BIBLE — DOCTRINESi 

Human  Depravity;  the  Atonement; 
Redemption;  Repentance;  Justificstion 
by  Faith;  Regeneration;  Adoption,  the 
Witness  of  the  Spirit;  Christian  Perfec- 
tion; Possibility  of  Final  Apostasy. 

Books. — Clark's  Theology,  Fletch- 
er's Ap}>eal;  Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of 
Salvation;  Upham's  Life  of  Faith;  Bul- 
lion's or  some  other  approved  Grammar; 
Mitchel's,  or  some  other  approved  Geog- 
raphy— an  Essay. 


DISCIPLINE.  29 

SECOND     TEAR BIBLE    DOCTRINES. 

Existence  and  Attributes  of  God; 
Trinity;  Divinity  and  Humanity  of 
Christ;  Personality  and  Deity  of  the  Ho- 
ly Ghost;  Immortality  of  the  Soul;  Res- 
urrection of  the  Body;  Future  General 
Judgment;  Eternal  Rewards  and  Pun- 
ishments. 

Books — Watson's  Institutes;  Butler's 
Analogy;  Upham's  Interior  life;  Dick's 
Future  State;  Luther  Lee  on  the  Im- 
mortality of  the  Soul;  English  Gram- 
mar continued — an  Essay. 

THIRD   YEAR—BIBLE — INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Christian  Sabbath;  the  Lord's 
Supper;  Christian  Baptism. 

BooKs-Watson's  Institutes  continu- 
ed; Lowell  Lectures;  Upham's  Divine 
Union;  Jones*  Church  History;  History 
oftheU.  B.  Church;  Tytler's  General 
History;  and  Coleman's  Geographical 
History  of  the  Bible — an  Essay. 


30  UNITED     BRETHREN 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  student 
is  earnestly  advised  to  read  as  many  of 
the  following  works  as  possible,  upon 
which,  however,  he  shall  not  be  exam-; 
ined: 

Powel  on  Apostolical  Succession; 
Fletcher's  Checks;  Wesley's  Sermons; 
Hallam's  Middle  Ages;  Prideaux  Con- 
nections; Alison's  History  of  Europe; 
Hunter's  Sacred  Biography;  Upham's 
Menial  Philosophy;  Wayiand's  Moral 
Science;  Dymond's  Essay  on  Morality; 
Parker^s  Loaic,  Whateley's  Rhetoric; 
Comstock'sNatural  Philosophy;  Clark's 
Mental  Discipline. 

Each  Aonual  Conference  containing 
German  ministers,  shall  appoint  a  com- 
miitee  on  a  course  of  German  reading, 
and  German  licentiate  ministers  shall 
be  examined  thereon  according  to  the 
decision  of  said  conferences. 


DISCIPLINE.  31 

SECTION    VII. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ITINERANCY 
AND  THE  MANNER  OF  SUSTAINING  IT. 

Ques.     Who  are  the  Itinerants? 

Ans.l.  All  who  propose  ihemselves 
wiihout  reserve,  after  having  traveled 
one  year  under  the  direction  of  the  sta- 
tioning commiitee,  or  Presiding  Elder, 
and  have  been  received,  by  a  vote  of 
two  thirds  of  the  members  of  Confer- 
ence, shall  be  considered  itinerants  from 
year  to  year,  and  may  be  employed  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  General  or  An- 
nual Conferences. 

2.  The  Bishop  and  Presiding  Elders 
of  the  past  and  present  year,  together 
with  an  equal  number  of  Local  Elders 
or  preachers,  elected  by  the  annual  Con- 
ference, shall  constitute  a  stationing 
committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
supply  all  the  circuits,  stations  and  mis- 
sions, as  far  as  practicable,  from  the 
above  list. 


32  UNITED   BRETHREN 

Provided, how eveVf  that  if  any  of  the 
preachers  thus  stationed,  or  any  who 
may  not  receive  an  appointnaent,  are  dis- 
satisfied, they  shall  have  a  right  to  ap- 
peal to  the  Annual  Conference,  if  two- 
thirds  grant  the  appeal;  the  decision  of 
which  shall  be  final;  and  the  report  of 
said  sialioning  committee  shall  be  read 
at  least  twenty- four  hours  before  the 
adjournment  of  Conference. 

3.  Should  there  not  be  enough  Itin- 
erants to  fill  all  the  circuits,  stations  and 
missions,  such  vacancies  shall  be  sup- 
plied by  the  Presiding  Elders. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  for  the 
support  of  itinerants? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
preacher  in  charge,  in  conjunction  with 
the  stewards  of  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence, at  its  first  session  in  each  year,  to 
make  out  an  estimate  of  the  regular  ex- 
penses of  the  circuit  or  station,  and  ap- 
portion the  same  among  the  dififerent 
appointments,  accordlDg  to  their  several 
abilities. 


DISCIPLINE.  33 

'  Provided,  however,  should  any  An- 
nual Conference  think  proper,  it  may 
adopt  any  oiher  measures. 

Ques.  3.  How  shall  the  presiding 
Elders  be  elected? 

Ans.  The  Annual  Conference  shall 
elect  them  hy  ballot.  A  majority  of  the 
whole  number  of  votes  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  a  choice. 

Ques.  4.  What  shall  be  done  for 
the  support  of  the  presiding  Elders? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
Annual  Conference  to  make  such  regu- 
lations for  the  support  of  the  presiding 
Elders  as  they  in  their  wisdom  may 
think  best  calculated  to  accomplish  the 
desired  end. 

Qices.  5.  How  shall  ihey  be  station- 
ed? 

Ans.  By  the  Bishop  and  two  Elders? 

Ques.  6.  How  shall  the  Bishops' 
fields  of  labor  be  assigned  them? 

Ans.    By   the    General    Conference, 
and  in    the   fields    thus  assigned   them 
they  shall  devote  their  whole  time: 
3 


34  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Provided,  h'wever,  that  they  shall 
have  the  privilege  of  making  interchan- 
ges when  circums^tances  make  it  neces- 
sary; the  same  not  being  inconsistent 
•with  the  wishes  of  ihe  respective  Annu- 
al Conferences. 

Qiies.  1.  How  shall  their  support  be 
secured? 

A77S,  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
preachers  in  charge  of  circuits  and  sta- 
tions, 10  lift  a  collection  annually  at 
each  of  their  preaching  places,  for  the 
support  of  their  Bishops.  The  Bishops 
shall  annually  publish  through  the  Tel- 
escope, a  report  of  their  districts,  and 
the  amount  of  salary  received  from  the 
several  Annual  Conferences  of  their  dis- 
tricts. 

Ques.^.  What  shall  be  done  to  reg- 
ulate the  Annual  Conferences  in  the  di- 
vision of  circuits  or  stations? 

Ans.  A  circuit  or  station  shall  not 
consist  in  any  specific  number  of  mem- 
bers or  appointments,  but  when  the  An- 
nual Conference  thinks  it  able  to  sup- 


DISCIPLINE.  35 

port  a  minisier,  it  may  be  recognized  as 
such. 

•j^  If  any  who  are  received  as  abov- 
staied,  shall  cease  to  travel  vviihoui  giv- 
ing satisfaction  to  the  Conference  of 
which  he  is  a  member,  he  shall  not  be 
eniiiled  to  any  support  from  the  funds 
belonging  to  said  Conference.  And  fur- 
thermore, he  shall  not  re-enter  the  itin- 
erancy without  the  consent  of  at  least 
two-thirds  ofthe  Conference.  Yetsuper- 
numerary  and  superannuated  relations 
shall  be  duly  recognized  as  in  accord- 
ance with  this  section,  and  may  be  se- 
cured to  any  brother  having  just  claims 
thereto  by  a  vote  of  Conference. 

Should  a  traveling  preacher  or  Elder 
desire  to  leave  the  work  assigned  him, 
he  must  first  acquaint  the  presiding  El- 
der of  his  intention,  by  writing;  and 
should  any  one  leave  or  neglect  his  sta- 
tion, except  it  be  through  sickness  or 
other  unavoidable  circumstances,  he 
shall  be  accountable  to  the  next  Annual 
Conference,  and  shall  notbe  entiilod  to 


36  UNITED    BRETHREN 

any   salary  for   the  time  he  may  have 
traveled  during  ihe  year. 

SECTION     VIII. 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  he  called  the  "Home, 
Frontier  and  Foreign  Missionary  SocieVj,  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,"  and  is  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  annual  confer- 
ences in  extending:  their  missionary  labors 
throughout  the  country,  and  into  Foreign 
and  Heathen  lands. 

II.  The  payment  of  one  dollar  shall  con- 
stiiute  a  memlier  for  one  year — of  ten  dollars 
at  one  time  a  life  member — of  fifty  dollars  at 
one  time  a  life  director. 

III.  The  officers  of  this  society  shall  consist 
of  a  President,  three  Vice  Presidents,  Secre- 
tary, Treasurer,  and  six  Managers,  who  to- 
gether shall  constitute  a  Board  of  Directors; 
and  shall  be  elected  every  four  years  by  the 
General  Conference. 

IV.  The  President  shall  preside  at  all  m.eet- 
ings  of  the  Board,  and  shall  have  power  in 
conjunction  with  the  Secretary  to  call  special 


DISCIPLINE.  37 

meetings.     In  the  absence  of  the  President, 
one  ofilie  Vice  Presidents  shall  till  his  place, 

V.  The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  correct  record 
of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  society — conduct 
its  correspondence,  and  at  the  discretion  of 
the  Board  devote  himself  exclusively  to  the 
interests  of  the  society.  He  shall  keep  a 
record  of  all  the  life  members,  life  directors, 
legacies,  etc  ,  etc.  Fie  shall  also  make  out, 
and  publisl-i  under  the  direction  of  ihe  Board, 
an  annual  report  of  the  whole  missionary 
work.  His  salary  shall  be  determined  by  the 
Board  according  to  the  discipline. 

VI.  The  Treasurer  shall  hold  the  funds  of 
the  society  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Board. 

VII.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold 
annual  meetinjjs,  and  shall  have  authority  to 
make  by-laws  to  reeulaie  its  own  proceedings 
— to  appropriate  money  to  defray  incidental 
expenses — to  employ  and  pay  missionaries — 
to  open  new  fieb's,  and  to  publish  at  our  own 
press  such  matter  as  the  necessiiies  of  the 
cause  may  demand.  , 

VIII.  Each  missionary  in  the  employ  of 
the  Board  shall  report  quarterly  to  the  Secre- 
tary the  condition  of  his  mission. 

IX.  l-lach  conference  shall  be  considered  a 
branch  of  this  society,  and  shall  elect  a  con- 
ference Treasurer  and  Secretary.  1.  The 
branch  Treasurer  shall  hold  ihe  funds  design- 
ed for  the  Board  subject  to  its  order.     2.  The 


38  UKITED     BRETHREN 

branch  Secretary  shall  keep  a  record  of  the 
proceedintrs  of  the  annual  confe^rence  in  re- 
Jatiop  to  Home,  Frontier,  and  Foreign  mis- 
sions, separately,  and  report  the  same  annu- 
ally to  the  Secretary  of  the  Board.  He  shall 
also  record  the  names  of  the  members,  life 
members,  and  life  directors,  andshall  transmit 
the  names  of  life  members  and  life  directors 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Board. 

X.  The  branch  socieiies,  or  individual  mem- 
bers, may  specify  to  what  particular  portion 
of  the  work  their  funds  shall  be  applied; 
provided,  however,  that  if  more  is  thus 
designated  than  is  necessary  for  the  work 
specified,  it  may  be  applied  to  some  other 
work  as  the  Board  shall  determine. 

XI.  Each  branch  society  shall  have  the 
exclusive  managment  of  the  Home  missions 
within  its  own  limits. 

XII.  Treasurers  of  the  parent  Board  and  of 
the  branch  societies,  shall  give  approved 
security, 

XIII.  All  bequests  or  donations,  the  interest 
of  which  is  to  go  to  missionary  purposes,  made 
to  Suny  of  the  above  societies,  shall  be  kept 
sacred. 

SECTION    IX. 

QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE. 
Qaes.    1.   Who  are   the    iDembtrs    of 
the  Quarterly  Conference. 


DISCIPLINE.  ,"^9 

Ans.  All  th'3  properly  recognizod 
preachers,  exhoiters,  leaders,  stewards, 
and  trustees  of  meeting  and  parsonage 
houses,  who  reside  witliin  the  bounds  of 
the  circuit  or  station. 

j       Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of  the 

'  Quarterly  Conference? 

Ans.  1.  In  the  absence  of  iho  Presi- 
ding Elder,  the  Quarterly  conference 
shall  elect  a  presiding  Elder /jro  tem.t 
whose  official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  keep  a  correct  record  of 
all  their   proceedings,    in  a  book    provi- 

*^ded  for  that  purpose,  in  which  the  nam^s 
of  all  the  members,  cnrnposiDg  the  said 
,  conference  shall  be  entered. 

3.  To  make  a  general,  or.  if  neces- 
sary, particular  inquiry  into  the  moral 
deportment  and  official  character  of  all 
its  niembers. 

4.  To  receive  and  try  all  appeals, 
references,  and  complaints,  that  may 
come  regularly  before  it,  but  no  mem- 
ber  of    Quarterly     Conference  can    be 


40  UNITED    BRETHREN 

suspended,  or  expelled  prior  to  a  com- 
mittee trial. 

5.  To  grant  license  to  exLort  or 
preach  to  such  as  may  have  been  re- 
commended by  ai  least  two-thirds  of  the 
class  (in  each  ca^se  a  recommendation 
must  be  obtained)  of  which  they  may 
be  members;  provided  however,  that 
none  shall  receive  license  who  cannot 
give  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  call, 
experience,  soundness  in  doccrine,  and 
attachment  to  our  church  and  govern- 
ment. 

6,  To  make  settlement  with  the 
stewards  and  traveling  preacher?. 

v.  To  renew  the  license  of  exhorters, 
pnd  Quarterly  Conf.  licensed  preachers, 
annually  if  ihey  be  found  worthy. 

8.  After  such  licentiate  preachers 
have  stood  in  that  capacity  one  or  more 
years,  the  Quarterly  Conference  may 
recommend  them  to  the  Annual  Con- 
ference. 

9.  All  preachers  recommended  to 
the  Annual  Conference,  and  not  receiv- 
ed, may  sustain  their  former  relation. 


DISCIPLINE  41 

Ques.  3.  How  ere  preachers  from 
oihi'r  societies  received? 

Ans.  If  they  come  to  us  with  cer- 
tificates of  good  standing  in  the  society 
in  which  they  have  had  memhership, 
and  give  satisfaction  to  the  Quarterly 
Conference  on  examination  on  the  doc- 
trine, discipline,  government  and  usa- 
ges ofour  church,  then  Quarterly  Con- 
ference may  license  them  till  the  next 
Annual  Conference  ensuinr;  after 
which,  if  their  conduct  and  doctrine  be 
in  accordance  with  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
they  mriy  be  considered  as  preachers  or 
elders  who  stand  under  a  similar  li- 
cense among  us. 

"^^  QiiQS.  4.     What  directions   are  nec- 
essary in  case  of  appeals? 

Ans,  Any  exhorter  or  preacher,  dis- 
satisfied with  the  decision  of  a  quarterly 
Conference,  shall,  within  thirty  days  af- 
ter the  Quarterly  Conference,  notify  the 
secretary,  in  writing,  of  his  intention  to 
appeal,  together  with  his  reasons  for  so 
doing;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 


42  UNITED    BRETHREN 

secretary  to  lake  or  send  a  certified  copy 
of  the  proceedings,  the  notification  and 
reasons  assigned,  to  the  annual  Confer- 
ence, 

Ques.  5.  Where  shall  our  nextQuar- 
terly  Conference  beheld? 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  theQuar- 
erjy  Conference  to  open  and  close  by 
singing  and  prayer. 

SECTION    X, 

OFFICIAL    MEETINGS  FOR   STATIONS. 

Qftes.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of 
the  official  meeting? 

Ans.  1.  Ail  the  propeily  recognized 
menjbers  of  ihe  Quarterly  Conference. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be 
the  president  of  the  meeting,  and  in  his 
absence,  one  of  the  members  shall  be 
elected  president /)ro  1cm. 

Qnes.  2.  What  is  the  business  of 
the  official  meeting? 

Ans.   1.    ITie  president  shall  call  the 


DISCIPLINE.  43 

nipetlno;   to  order,    and  begin    and  con- 
,j^clude  with  prayer. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary  who  shall 
make  a  record  of  all  the  proceedings  of 
the  meeting. 

3.  'J'o  receive  a  statement  from  each 
class  leader  in  reference  to  the  prosper- 
ity of  religion  in  his  class. 

4.  To  receive   all  monies  from    the 

*  stewards  that  have  been  collected  since 
the  last  meoiing,  and  pay  over  the  same 
to  the  preacher  in   charge. 

5.  This  body  shall  meet  once  each 
month,  and  may  meet  oftener  if  circum- 
siances  require. 

6.  It  shall  b-  the  duty  of  the  ofTicial 

*  meeting  to  receive  all  reports  of  sub- 
scriptions, and  monies  collected  and  dis- 
bursed for  ih')  interests  of  ihe  station; 
and  all  persons  entrusted  with  subscrip- 
t  inns  or  monies  shall  report  the  same  to 
the  meeting:  as  soon  as  possible. 

7.  It  sfiall  be  the  duty  of  ihe  official 
meeting  to  submit  its  doings  to  the 
Quarterly  Conference  for  examination 
and    approval. 


44  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION    XI. 

MEMBERS  IN  GENERAL. 

Qnes.  How  .shall  members  be  taken 
into  our  society? 

Ans.  When  at  any  meeting  a  per- 
son makes  known  a  design  to  become  a 
member  of  our  society,  then  the  preach- 
er present  shall  put  to  him  or  her,  the 
following  question: 

"Have  you  experienced  the  pardon 
of  your  sins,  and  are  you  determined  by 
the  grace    of  God  to  save  your  soul?" 

If  the  person  answer  the  question  in 
the  afBrmative,  and  no  objections  be 
made  by  any  member,  on  account  of 
his  or  her  immoral  conduct,  then  the 
preacher  will  give  his  ri^ht  band  to 
such,  as  a  member  of  our  society,  and 
record  his  or  her  name  on  the  class 
book;  but  so  long  as  any  person  cannot 
answer  the  above  question  in  the  affirm- 
ative, such  person  shall  not  be  consid- 
ered in  full  meraborahip,  and  shall  have 
no  vote  in  the  society   but  shall  be    re- 


DlSCIPLmK.  45 

cognized  as  a  seeker,  under  the  walch- 

Vcart!  of  the  society. 

If  any  person  thus  received  under  the 
watch-care  of  ihe  church  shall  cease  to 
manifest  a  desire  to  seek  the  Lord,  the 
preacher  in  charge,  by  the  consent  of 
the  class,  can,  at  any  time,  publicly  drop 
the  name  of  such  seeker. 

^  Everv  member  of  this  society  shall 
acknowledge  and  confess  that  he  be- 
lieves the  Bible  to  be,  and  contain  the 
holy  word  of  God;    that  he  will    hence- 

,  forth  strive  with  all  bis  heart,  to  seek 
his  eternal  welfare  in  Christ  Jesus;  and 
work  out    his  salvation    with  fear   and 

,  trembling,  to  the  end  that  he  may  be  en- 
abled lojieefrom  ihe  wrath  to  come. 

Every  mf-mber  shall  endeavor  to  lead 
a  good  life,  be  diligent  in  prayer,  panic- 
ularly  in  private,  and  for  his  own  edifica- 
tion, to  be  present  at  end  attend  when 
practicable,  all  of  our  meetings  for  wor- 
ship. 

Heads  of  families  should  never  omit 


46  UICITED    BRETHREN 

to  pray  with  ibeir  familie?,  morning  and 
evening,  and  set  them  a  good  example 
in  all  the  christian  virtues. 

Everyone  should  strive  to  walk  as  in 
the  presence  of  God;  also,  accus- 
tom himself  to  a  close  communion  with 
God  in  all  his  employments,  and  never 
speak  evil  ofhis  fellow  beings,  but  prac- 
tice love  towards  friend  and  foe;  do 
good  10  the  poor,  and  endeavor  to  be  a 
follower  of  Jesus  Christ  indeed. 

Every  one  shall  keep  the  Sabbath 
day  holy,  as  required  in  the  word  of 
God;  neither  buy  nor  sell,  but  spend 
the  same  in  exercise  of  devotion,  in 
reading  and  hearing  the  word  of  God, 
and  with  singing  spiritual  hymns  to  the 
honor  and  glory  of  God. 

It  is  the  duty  of  every  memberto  lead 
a  quiet,  peaceable  and  godly  life  among 
men,  as  it  becomes  a  christian  to  live  in 
peace,  and  be  subject  to  the  higheror  ru- 
ling powers,  as  the  word  of  God  requires. 

Every  member  of  our  society  should 


DISCIPLINE.  47 

willingly  and  freely    con;ribute    sorae- 
y  thing  quarterly,  "as  the  Lord  haih  pros- 
pered him,"  1  Cor.,  xvi:  2,  towards  the 
support  of  the  itinerant  preachers. 

When  it  is  known  by  any  of  our  class 
leaders,  that  there  are  poor  members 
among  them,  who  by  sickness,  accident, 
or  oiher  unavoidable  ciroumsiances, 
9  have  been  brought  lo  want,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  leader  in  charge,  to  go, 
or  appoint  one  to  wait  upon  the  class, 
to  ask  alms,  money,  clothing,  or  pro- 
duce, as  thtr  circumstances  may  require; 
and  should  any  one  class  be  too  poor  to 
alleviate  theirpoor,  it  shall  then  be  made 
t  known  to  the  preacher  in  charge, 
whose  duly  it  shall  be  to  inform  the  dif- 
ferent classes  on  his  circuit,  and  if  it 
should  so  happen  that  iny  one  circuit 
should  be  insufficient  to  meet  the  wants 
of  their  poor,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
presiding  Elder,  to  present  the  matter  on 
the  difierent  circuits  at  their  Qiarterly 
conferences,  so  that  the  unavoidably  poor 
of  our    church  may   be   considered  and 


48  UNITED    BRETHREN 

provided  for.  1  John,  iii:  17,  Ps.  xii:  1,2. 

Eesolved,  That  it  be  the  advice  of  ihe 
General  Conference,  that  all  districts, 
staiions,  circuits  and  missions,  consisting 
of  classes  and  otherwise,  cheerfully 
receive  the  preachers  appointed  by  the 
stationing  committee  of  the  respective 
Annual  Conferences. 

The  foregoing  rules  are  draw  up  for 
the  better  regulation  of  our  society; 
and  we  believe  they  are  founded  in  the 
word  of  God,  and  incumbent  on  all  who 
are  members  of  our  church  to  observe. 
Should  any  violate  or  habitually  neglect 
these  rules,  they  shall  be  by  iheir  res- 
pective class-leaders,  admonished  to  re- 
formation; and  should  they  not  reform 
they  shall  be  suspended  or  expelled  as 
the  case  may  require. 

Admonition  on  Dress. — Inasmuch 
as  the  Lo-d  has  cotDmanded  us  not  to 
be  conformed  to  this  world,  (Rom.  12: 
2,)  to  lay  apart  ail  fiilhinoss,  and  super- 
fluity of  naughtiness,  (James  1:  21,) 
and  as  the  principles  of  the    Christian 


DISCIPLINE.  49 

religion,  as  tauj^ht  boih  by  the  prrcepis 
and  example  of  the  meek  and  adorable 
Saviour,  are  in  strict  and  perfect  accor- 
dance with  these  comniancJmenis; 

We  therefore  humbly  beseech  and 
admonish  ihe  members  of  our  church, 
boih  male  and  female,  lo  observe  these 
divine  precepts,  in  buying,  mnking  and 
wearing- of  apparel,  as  also  the  cutting 
and  wearing  of  the  hair,  especially  our 
ministers  and  their  families ,  they  being 
ensatnples  to  the  flock. 

SECTION     XII. 

CLASSES. 

1.  A  class  shall  consist  of  three  or 
more  members,  who  shall  annually  elect 
one  member  from  their  own  or  some 
oilier  class,  who  shall  be  called  their 
leader. 

Ques.     What  is  the  duty  of  a  leader? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  meet  his 
class  in  class  or  prayer  meeting,  ai  least 
4 


50  UNITED    BRETHREN 

once  a  weak,  to  speak  to  them  concern- 
ing the  spiritual  welfare  of  their  souls, 
and  exhort  them  to  unity  and  love.  He 
shall  extend  the  freedom  of  our  prayer 
and  class-meetings  to  all  sincere  and 
well  disposed  persons  who  may  desire 
to  attend  them. 

II,  Every  class  shall  annually  elect 
[or  if  the  class  prefer  it  the  preacher 
may  appoint]  one  who  shall  be  called 
class-steward. 

Ques.  What  is  the  duty  of  a  steward? 

Ans.  1.  He  shall  collect  quarterly 
contributions  for  the  support  of  the  trfiv- 
eling  preachers;  keep  an  accurate  ac- 
count thereof,  and  return  the  same  to 
each  Quarterly  Cooference. 

2.  He  shall  be  accountable  to  the 
Quarterly  Conference  for  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  duties  as  steward  of 
his  class. 

3.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  pro- 
vide the  elements  for  Sacrament. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  ex- 
horters? 

Ans.     To  make  appointments  wher- 


DISCIPLTx^IE.  51 

ever  it  is  acceptable  to  the  people;  read 
portions  of  sacred  Scripture,  exhorting 
therefrom;  exhorting  saints,  that  they 
with  purpose  of  heart  should  cleave  lo 
the  Lord,  and  sinners  to  flee  from  the 
wrath  10  come;  and  this  ihey  shall  do 
as  ofien  as  praciicable. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case 
of  in^moral  conduct? 

Jin9.  The  class  shall  appoint  one  or 
more  to  visit  ihe  offending  brother  or 
member,  and  if  possible  reclaim  him; 
but  if  unsuccessTul,  he  or  she  shall  be 
tried  by  the  class  to  which  they  belong, 
or  a  select  number  therf>of  chosen  by 
the  parties  concerned,  with  the  preacher 
in  charge  of  the  circuii  or  station,  who 
shall  be  chairman,  and,  if  found  guilty, 
the  accused  shall  be  expelled,  unless 
saiisfaction  be  given  by  an  expression 
of  repentance  or  otherwise.  But,  should 
any  member  be  dissatisfied  with  the  de- 
cision, an  appeal  may  be  had  to  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  by  living  notice 
thereof  to  the  preacher   in  charge.     la 


52  UMTED    BRETHREN 

such  case,  however,  the  same  persons 
shall  not  sit  in  judgment  on  the  same 
case.  Yet,  cases  may  happen,  where  it 
would  be  expedient  lo  choose  a  com- 
miuee  from  any  other  class,  or  classes, 
than  the  one  to  which  the  parlies  belong; 
also,  an  elder  may  be  chosen  as  chair- 
man, should  tne  preacher  in  charge 
deem  il  best  to  do   so. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when 
members  trespass  against  each  other? 

Ans.  "If  thy  brother  shall  trespass 
against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
between  ;hee  and  him  alone;  if  he  shall 
hear  thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother; 
but  if  he  will  not  hear  thee,  then  take 
with  thee  one  or  two  more;  and  if  he 
shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto 
the  church;  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear 
the  church,  let  him  be  unto  thee  as  a 
heathen  man  and  a  publiciin." 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  cabe  of 
disputes  between  ni'Miibers  or  preachers? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  shall 
be  known,  shall  inquire  into  the  circum- 


DISCIPLINE.  53 

Stances  of  the  case,  and  shall  recom- 
mend to  the  conti'nding  parties  a  refer- 
ence, consisting  of  one  arbiter  chosen 
by  the  plaintiff  and  another  by  the  de- 
fendant, and  a  thiid  by  these  two;  then 
these  three  are  to  decide. 

But,  if  either  be  dissatisfied  wiih  the 
decision,  such  may  have  aright  to  an  ap- 
peal to  the  next  Quarterly  Conference 
for  a  second  arbitration,  where  each  par- 
ty shall  choose  two  arbiters,  and  the 
four  shall  choose  a  fifth;  a  decision  of 
the  majori'v  of  whom  shall  be  final. — 
Any  person  refusing  to  abide  by  this  de- 
cision, and  every  member  refusing,  in 
case  of  debt  or  dispute,  to  refer  the  mat- 
ter to  arbitration  when  recommended  to 
him  by  a  preacher  or  leader;  or  who 
shall  enter  into  a  lawsuit  with  another 
member  before  these  measures  are  taken, 
shall  be  expelled;  except  when  the  case 
is  of  such  a  nature  as  to  require  and  jus- 
tify a  process  at  law,  as  executors  or  ad- 
ministrators, or  when  a  member  is  in 
danger  of  suffering  an  unexpected  loss 
of  property. 


64  UNITED     BRETHREN 

Every  class  leader  shall  keep  a  record 
of  the  proceedings  of  church  trials, 
deaths,  expulsions  and  removals,  in  a 
book  provifjed  for  that  purpose;  and  it 
shall  be  his  duty  in  case  of  an  appea!, 
to  send  his  record  to  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference, 

Any  person  wishing  to  obtain  license 
to  exhort  or  preach,  must  obtnin  from 
the  class  of  which  he  is  a  member,  by  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  a 
recommendation  in  writing,  signed  by 
the  leader,  to  theQuarierly  Conference 
of  his  circuit  or  station. 

SECTION    XIII. 

Preachers'  Duties. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  preach- 
ers? 

Ans.  To  preach  Christ  crucified 
whenever  they  can  get  hearers;  to  form 
cUsses;  to  converse  with  the  members 
on  the  spiritual  condition  of  their  souls; 
10  administer   relief;  to  strengthen  and 


DISCIPLINE.  55 

direct  those  that  are  afflicted  and  labor 
under  temptations;  to  animate  the  indo- 
lent; to  endeavor  as  CQUch  as  possible 
to  edify  and  instruct  all  in  faiih,  in  erace, 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ; 
to  visit  the  sick  on  all  occasions;  to 
strive  to  enforce  and  confirm  the  doc- 
trines they  deliver  by  a  well  ordered 
and  exemplary  life. 

Ques.  What  are  the  directions  given 
10  our  preachers.^ 

Ans.  1.  Be  diligent.  Never  trifle 
away  your  time;  always  be  serious.  Let 
vour  motto  he  "  HOLINESS  UNTO 
THE  LORD !"  Avoid  all  lightness  and 
jesting;  converse  sparingly;  conduct 
yourself  prudently  with  women;  and 
demean  yourself  in  all  respects  as  a 
true  christian. 

Be  at  all  times  averse  to  crediting  evil 
reports;  believe  evil  of  no  one  without 
good  evidence.  Put  the  best  construc- 
tion on  every  thing. 

2.  Speak  evil  of  no  one.  What- 
ever may  be  your  thoughts,  keep  them 


6C  UINTED    BRETHREN 

within  your  own  breast  till  you  can  tell 
the  person  conCverned  what  you  tliink 
wrong  in  his  conduct. 

3.  Let  your  business  be  to  save  as 
many  souls  as  possible.  To  this  em- 
ployment give  yourselfup  wholly.  Visit 
those  who  need  it;  and  act  in  all  things, 
not  according  lo  your  own  wills,  but  as 
sons  in  the  gospel.  For  as  such  it  be- 
comes your  duly  to  employ  your  time 
in  the  manner  prescribed,  in  preaching 
and  visiting  from  house  to  house,  in  in- 
sirucdon  and  prayer,  and  in  meditating 
on  the  woid  of  God.  With  these  be 
occupied  until  our  Lord  comeih. 

No  preacher  shall  arbitrarily  form  a 
mission  or  circuit  within  the  embrace  of 
any  circuit,  or  presiding  Elder's  district. 

SJtiCTlON    XIV. 

Circuit  Preachers'  Duties. 

Ques.  What  are  ihe  duties  of  a  cir- 
cuit preacher? 


DISCIPLINE.  57 

Ans.  1.  To  tako  the  circuit  assigned 
him  willingly. 

2.  To  attend  the  pppointmenis  on 
his  circuit  regularly;  preach  to  the  peo- 
ple; and  hold  socieiy  meeiings. 

3.  The  preacher  in  charge  is  to  see 
thai  ihf-re  are  suitab'e  p'^rsons  elected  in 
each  class  as  stewards,  and  leader  or 
leaders. 

4.  To  read  the  following  three  sec- 
tions of  our  discipline  everv  six  months, 
in  each  chs^,  viz: — The  Confession  of 
Faith  — of  Members  in  General-C  lasses , 

5.  To  sit  as  president  on  the  trial  of 
members,  and  see  thai  a  correct  account 
of  the  same  is  kept. 

6  To  render  a  strict  account  of  the 
condiiion  of  his  circuit  to  each  quarterly 
Conference,  where  he  is  to  be  held  ac- 
countable for  the  neglect  of  any  regular 
a[)pointment  on  his  circuit. 

7.  It  sha'l  be  his  duty  to  use  every 
laudable  effort  to  circulate  our  books  and 
church  perioflicals;  collect  funds  due  the 
Telescope  Office,  and  use  due  dilligence 


58  UNITED    BRETHREN. 

to  advance  the  inter^^sts  of  the  Confer- 
ence Printing  Establishra-nt. 

8.  It.  shall  he  his  duty  to  keep  a  list 
of  all  the  subscribers  to  our  church  or- 
gf\ns  ai  the  different  appointments  on 
his  circuit,  and  hand  it  over  to  his  suc- 
cessor at  the  Annual  Conference. 

b.  No  preacher  shall  dismiss  any 
appointment  from  his  circuit  without  the 
consent  of  Quarterly  Conference. 

10.  To  make  out  a  list  of  all  the 
appointments  on  his  circuit,  and  present 
it  to  the  presiding  Elder  at  each  Annual 
Conference,  for  the  convenience  of  his 
successor. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  pre* 
achers  in  charge  of  circuits,  and  sta- 
tions to  lift  a  collection  annually  at  each 
of  their  preaching  places  for  the  support 
of  their  Bishops. 

Ii  shall  be  the  duiy  of  all  stationed 
preachers  to  visit  every  family  under 
their  care,  at  least  once  every  quarter, 
and  pay  strict  attention  to  the  young 
members  of  their  charge. 


DISCIPLINE.  59 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  circuit  preach- 
ers to  visit  as  much  as  possible. 

Resolved,  that  pach  preacher,  whether 
local  or  intinerant,  make  use  of  every 
laudable  effort  to  enlar:;e  the  borders  of 
our  Zion,  in  spreading  scriptural  holi- 
nessover  these  lands,  and  report  to  their 
respective  Annual  Conferences  the  num- 
ber of  new  appointments  obtained. 

SECTION      XV. 

ELECTION   OF   ELDERS. 

Qiies.     How  is  an  Elder  constituted? 

Ans.  After  a  probation  of  three 
years,  a  preacher  mr»y  be  presented  to 
the  yearly  conference  for  consideration; 
whereupon  the  Bishop  shall  propose  to 
Conference  the   following  questions: 

Ques.  1.  Is  he  blameless  touching 
the  marriage  state? 

2.  Is  his  deportment  in  the  social 
circle  marked  wit'i  watchful  sobriety? 

3.  Is  he  hospitable  towards  the  af- 
fliced  and  needy? 


CO  UNITED     BRETHREN 

4.  Is  he  faithful  in  the  public  minis- 
tration of  God's  word? 

5.  Is  his  household  subject  to  rules 
of  pieiy? 

Should  the  above  questions  be  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  a  committee 
of  three  or  five  elders  shall  be  appointed, 
before  whom  the  candidate  shall  ap- 
pear, and  speak  uninterruptedly  in  an- 
swer to  the  following"  question,  viz: 

Qices.  1.  Upon  what  foundation  do 
you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of 
God? 

2.  How  do  you  prove  the  fall  of  man 
by  transgression? 

3.  How  do  you  prove  the  redemp- 
tion of  man  by  Jesus  Christ? 

4.  Do  you  believe  in  the  God-head 
of  Jesus  Christ? 

5.  Whfit  foundation  have  you  for 
such  a   be  lie  17 

6.  Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost 
as  pres^^nied  in  our  Confession  of  Faith? 

7.  Upon  what  evidence  do  you  be- 
lieve this? 


DISCIPLINE.  61 

8.  Do  you  believe  in  future  ever- 
lasting punishmeni? 

Ii  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  com- 
mitiee  in  the  close,  to  propose  any  ques- 
tion touching  the  answers  given,  where- 
in iheir  understanding  niJiy  not  have 
been  distinct.  It  shall  also  by  their  duty 
10  make  out,  sign  and  deliver  lo  Confer- 
ence a  report  of  each  case  which  may 
have  been  before  them.  Whereupon, 
by  a  majoriiy  of  the  votes  of  the  Elders 
of  Conference,  said  candidates  may  be 
elected  to  ordination.  All  ordained 
elders  of  other  denominations,  who  may 
join  our  church  as  such,  must  pass  the 
above  examination,  but  they  may  be 
exempt  from  the  laying  on  of  hands. — 
Yet  circumstances  deinamling  it,  a  li- 
centiate may  be  presented  to  Confer- 
ence for  ordination,  at  any  time  prior  to 
a  probation  of  three  years,  provided 
two  thirds  of  the  Elders  present  vote 
for  the  same. 


62  UiN'iTED    BK£.x:xiL^^-^ 

SECTION     XVI. 

ORDINATION  OF  ELDERS. 

I.  On  the  day  appointed  there  shall 
be  a  suitable  sermon  or  exhortaiion  de- 
livered. 

II,  After  th^ir  names  have  been 
read  alouii,  the  Bishop  or  Eider  shall 
read  the  following  articles  to  all  who 
may  be  chosen  for  ordination: 

"An  Elder  must  be  blameless  as  the 
steward  of  God,  not  self-willed,  not  soon 
angry,  not  given  to  wine;  no  striker, 
not  given  to  fdihy  lucre;  but  a  lover  of 
hospitality,  a  lover  of  good  men,  sober, 
just,  holy,  temperate;  holding  fast  the 
faithful  word  as  he  hath  been  taught, 
that  he  may  be  able,  by  sound  doctrine, 
both  to  exhort  and  convince  the  gain- 
saver."— T/^.  i:  7-9. 

Ques.  Do  you  trust  that  you  are  in- 
wardly moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
lake  upon  you  the  office  of  the  ministry, 
to  serve  God  in  the  church  of  Christ  to 


DISCIPLINE.  63 

the  honor  and  glory  of  his  holy  name? 

Ajis.     1  trust  J  nm. 

Ques  Do  you  believe  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, Old  and  New  Testament  7 

Ans.     I  do  believe  them. 

Ques.  "Will  you  epply  flue  dilligence 
to  frame  and  fashion  your  life  according 
to  the  doctrines  of  Christ;  and  to  make 
yourself  as  much  as  in  you  lieth,  a 
wholesome  example  of  the  flock  of 
Christ  ? 

Ans.  I  will,  the  Lord  being  my 
helper. 

Ques.  Will  you  obey  them  to  whom 
the  charge  and  government  over  you  is 
committed,  and  follow  iheir  godly  ad- 
monitions with  a  willing  and  ready 
mind  ? 

Ans.  I  will  endeavor  through  the 
grace  of  God  to  do  to. 

Then  prayer  is  to  he  offered. 

[After  prayer  the  Bishop  and  Elders 
shall  lay  their  hands  upon  the  heads  of 
every  one  of  them,  and  tay:] 

•*  Take  thou  authority  to  eiecuie  the 


G4  UMITED   BRETHREN 

office  of  an  Elder  in  the  church  of  God, 
in  the  name  of  the  Father,  the  Sun,  and 
the  Holy  Ghost:   Amen." 

[Hereupon  the  Bishop  or~Elder  shall 
(1f  liver  to  every  one  ofihem  the  Holy 
Bible,  saying:] 

"  Take  thou  authority  mo  read  and 
preach  the  word  of  God  and  administer 
the  ordina(!ces  in  the  church  of  Christ." 

[Then  the  Bishop  or  Elder  shall  pray. 
And  after  prayer  he  shall  read  from 
Luke  xii:  35-38:]  *' Let  your  loins  be 
girded  about,  and  your  lights  burning, 
and  ye  yourselves  like  unto  men  that 
wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he  shall  re- 
turn from  the  wedding;  that  when  he 
Cometh  and  knocketh,  ihey  may  open 
unto  him  immediately.  Blessed  are 
those  servants  whom  the  Lord  when  he 
Cometh,  shall  find  watching.  Verily,  I 
say  unto  you,  that  he  shall  gird  himself 
and  make  them  sit  down  to  meat,  and 
will  coirie  forth  and  serve  them.  And 
if  he  shall  come  in  the  second  watch  or 
come  in  the  third  watch,  and  find  them 


DISCIPLINE.  65 

SO,  blessed  are  those  servants."  [After 
ihis,  the  following  benediction  is  to  be 
pronounced.] 

The  peace  of  God  Jceep  your  hearts 
and  minds  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord.     Amen. 

SECTION     XVII, 

Elders'  Duties. 

It  is  the  duty  of  an  Elder  to  preach  as 
often  as  he  can,  to  baptize,  to  adminis- 
ter the  Lord's  supper,  solemnize  mar- 
riages, to  perform  all  parts  of  divine  ser- 
vice, to  be  an  example  to  the  flock  of 
Christ,  by  irniiaiing  his  moral  example; 
and  in  a  very  special  manner  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  an  Elder  to  cherish  and  en* 
courage  young  ministers,  and  always  to 
be  looking  for  those  whom  God  has  cal- 
led to  preach,  and  advise  them  to  take 
up  the  cross,  and  begin  the  work  without 
delay,  that  the  labor  of  this  gospel  har- 
vest may  be  faithfully  performed. 


66  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION    XVIII. 
PRESIDING    ELDERS. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  pre- 
siding Elder  ? 

Ans.  1.  To  travel  through  the  dis- 
trict appointed  him,  and  to  preach  as 
often  as  is  practicable. 

2.  He  shall  appoint  the  quarterly 
and  camp  meetings,  and  attend  them. 
He  shall  hold  quarterly  conferences, 
with  the  preachers,  exhorters,  leaders, 
stewards,  and  trustees,  and  administer 
the  ordinances  of  God's  house.  He 
shall  inquire  and  examine  whether  the 
preachers  do  their  dutv,  preach  every 
Sabbath  ;  and  exhort  them  to  maintain 
discipline  and  order,  love  and  serious- 
ness in  the  society. 

3.  He  may  also  in  conjunction  with 
two  elders,  preachers,  exhorters  or  lead- 
ers, [one  fronj  each  circuit,]  change  the 
preachers  in  his  district. 

4.  Should  any  district  happen  to  be 
without  a  presiding  Elder,  itilbrmatiun 


DISCIPLINE.  67 

shall  immediately  be  given  to  a  Bishop 
■who  shall  appoini  an  Elder  to  preside  in 
said  district  uniil  the  ensuing  Annual 
Conference. 

SECTION    XIX. 

Bishops— Election  and  Duties. 

Qes.  How  are  the  Bishops  to  be 
elecied  ? 

Ans.  The  General  Conference  shall 
elect  them  for  ihe  term  of  lour  jearsby 
a  majority  ofthe  whole  number  of  votes, 
to  be  at  the  option  of  conference  re- 
elected. The  Bishop  must  be  capable 
of  attending  the  conferences  appointed 
them,  otherwise  they  cannot  be  elected. 

Qites.     What  are  the  duties  of  Bish-^ 
ops  ? 

Ans.  1.  To  preside  over  the  Annual 
and  General  Conferences. 

2.  In  conjunction  with  the  Presiding 
Elders  of  the  past  and  present  year,  to- 
gether with  an  equal   number  of  elders 


68  UNITED     BRETHREN 

or  preachers,  they  may  fix  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  traveling  preachers  for  the 
several  circuits,  stations  and  missions  : 
Provided  that  they  do  not  allow  any 
iniinerant  preacher  to  remain  inthesame 
station  or  circuit  more  than  three  con- 
secutive years,  unless  particular  circum- 
stances require  it,  and  then  only  with 
consent  of  the  Conference. 

3.  The  Bishop  in  conjunciion  with 
two  Elders  appointed  by  Conference, 
shall  point  out  the  districts  which  are  to 
be  traveled  by  the  Presiding  Elders. 

4.  It  is  incumbent  on  them  to  per- 
form the  rights  of  ordination. 

5.  When  a  Bishop  n^^Jects  his  duty, 
unless  through  unavoidable  circumstan- 
ces, he  cannot  be  suffered  to  retain  his 
office. 

6.  If  our  church  should  at  any  time 
be  destitute  of  a  Bishop,  a  Bishop  pro 
tern  shall  be  elected  from  among  the 
Elders  at  each  Annual  Conference. — 
Each  Bishop  pro  tern  shall  attend  the 
next  succeeding  Conference,  in  conjuuc- 


DISCIPLINE.  69 

'lion  wiih  the  Bishop  ^ro  tern  ibere  elec- 
ted ;  that  a  regular  currespondeDCe  be 
maiiiiained  uniil  the  ensuing  General 
Conferen  e- 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duiy  of  the  Bish- 
ops to  see  that  a  suitable  st  rmon  be  de- 
livereil  10  the  preachers  present  at  each 
Annual  Conlereuce. 

SECTION   XX. 

Immoral  Conduct  of  Preachers. 

Ques.  VVhai  shall  be  dune  when  an 
Elder  or  Preacher  is  reported  guilty  of 
ima)oriality  ? 

Ans.  When  an  Elder  or  Preacher  is 
charged  with  immoral  conduci,  ihe 
preacher  to  whom  it  is  ki.own,  shall  take 
with  him  another  preacher,  exhorier  or 
leader,  and  exaiwine  into  the  charge; 
but  as  iheaposile  saiih,  1  Timothy,  5lh 
chap.,  IQih  verse,"  receive  not  an  accu- 
saiion  ugainst  an  E  der,  but  before  two 
or  three  witnesses.  Should  it  appear 
he  is  judily  accused,  notice  thereof  shall 


70  UNITED  BRETHREN 

be  given  him,  and  a  time  and  place  ap- 
pointed where  the  accusers  and  the  ac- 
cused shall  meet.  Then  three  Elders, 
or  one  Elder  and  two  Preachers  shall 
try  his  case,  which  are  to  be  appointed 
by  the  parties  concerned,  each  party 
appointing  one,  and  the  two  a  third  ; 
should  they  be  satisfied  that  the  accusa- 
tion is  sustained,  then  the  accused  shall 
hold  his  peace  till  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence where  he  shall  be  accountable. — 
If  the  accused  refuse  to  choose  his  com- 
mittee-man when  properly  noiified,  he 
shall  be  referred  to  the  annual  or  quar- 
teily  conference,  where  his  case  shall 
be  considered.  But  if  the  Elder  be  a 
Bishop,  he  shall  be  tried  by  the  Annual 
Conference  within  whose  bounds  the 
cause  of  accusation  occurred.  But 
should  sufficient  satisfaction  be  given 
by  an  expression  of  repentance,  or  oth- 
erwise, he  may  be  retained.  But  should 
the  accused  Preacher,  Elder,  or  Bishop, 
refuse  to  attend,  after  having  been  no- 
tified of  the  time    and  place  of  trial,  he 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

shnll  be  suspended;  and  the  committee 
shall  notify  him  to  appear  at  the  next 
Quarterly  or  Annual  Conference  to  an- 
swer 10  the  charges  preferred  against 
him;  and  if  he  fail  to  attend,  [unavoid- 
able circumstances  excepted,]  he  shall 
be  suspended,  or  expelled  as  the  Con- 
ference may  think  proper. 

Also,  if  the  accused  preacher  or  elder 
be  a  member  of  the  annual  conference, 
in  that  case,  the  presiding  elder  of  the 
district,  upon  which  such  accused  preach- 
er or  elder  lives,  or  of  the  adjoining  one, 
shall  act  as  chairman  on  the  trial — if 
he  be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference, in  that  case  the  preacher  in 
charge  of  the  circuit  upon  which  he 
lives  or  the  next  nearest,  shall  sit  as 
chairman  in  trying  the  offense. 

Note. — When  a  Preacher  or  Elder  is  expel- 
led from  one  Annual  Conference,  he  shall  not 
be  received  into  another  Conference  without 
the  consent  of  the  Conference  from  which  h« 
was  expelled. 


72  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION    XXI. 

Preachers'  Salaries.  * 

1.  The  annual  allowance  of  a  trav- 
eling Bishop  or  preacher,  if  he  has  no 
family,  shall  be  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
five  dollars  and  his  iraveiing  expenses  ; 
if  he  has  a  family,  it  shall  be  two  hun- 
dred and  fifiy  dollars,  his  travelling  ex- 
penses, and  house  rent  not  exceeding 
forty  dollars. 

2.  When  a  traveling  preacher  has  a 
family  of  children,  the  quarterly  con- 
ference of  his  circuit,  is,  in  that  case  to 
grant  him  such  an  allowance,  in  addi- 
tion to  that  above  stated,  as,  in  their 
judgment,  will  supply  the  wants  of  his 
family. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  circuit 
or  station,  when  a  preacher  is  sent  to 
them  by  Annual  Conference,  to  move 
said  preacher  on  such  circuit  or  station, 
at  their  own  expense. 

Qiies.  What  shall  be  done  for  the 
needy,  superamouated,  or  worn  out  trav- 


DISCIPLINE.  73 

eling  preachers,  and  their  widows  and 
orphans  ? 

Ans.  The  dividend  falling  to  the  dif- 
ferent Conferences  from  ihe  Benevolent 
Fund,  sh  ill  be  appropriated  lo  their  sup- 
port; provided  ii  is  stricily  observed  that 
the  Benevolent  Fund  money  shall  not 
be  appropriated  lo  any  other  purpose. 

If  there  are  no  such  claimants  as  spec- 
ified above,  it  shall  be  retained  by  the 
Conference  from  year  to  year,  uniii 
such  cases  occur.  And  in  case  the  An- 
nual Conference,  shall,  upon  evidence 
received,  be  satisfied  that  there  are  such 
claimants,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  Con- 
ference 10  appoint  a  com-niitee,  one  of 
whom  shall  be  a  Bishop,  to  divide  said 
fund:  Provided,  however,  that  a  super- 
annuated preacher  shall  be  allowed  no 
more  annually  than  one  hundred  and 
fii'ty  dollars,  if  rrarried ;  and  no  more 
than  seventy-five  dollars  if  unmarried; 
widows  no  more  annually  than  seventy- 
five   dollars;    and   an    orphan  no  more 


74  VNITED    BRETHREN 

than  twenty,  while  under  twelve  years 
of  age. 

The  preacher  shall  account  to  the 
Annual  Conference  for  all  presents  re- 
ceived. 

SECTION     xxiri. 

Marriage  Ceremony. 

ADDRESS. 

'We  are  gathered  together  in  the  sight 
of  God,  and  in  ihe  presence  of  these 
vi'itnesses,  to  join  together  N.  and  iM. 
as  husband  and  wife.  If  any  person 
present  knows  any  just  cause  or  imped- 
iment why  these  persons  should  not  be 
joined  in  marriage,  let  the  same  now 
sppak  or  forever  after  keep  silent. 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then 
shall  the  minister  say  unto  the  man:] 

"N.  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to  be 
thy-wedded  wife  lo  live  together  after 
God's  ordinance  ?  Wilt  ihou  love,  hon- 
or and  comfort  her  in  sickness  and  in 
health,  in  prosperity  and  adversity;  and 


DISCIPLINE.  75 

forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee  only  unio 
her  so  long  as  ye  boih  shall  live  ?     Ifso, 
'then  answer,  'I   will." 
'     [Then  shall  ihe    minister  say  to   the 
woman:] 

"M.  wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  be  thy 
wedded  husband,  to  live  together  after 
God's  ordinance?  Wilt  ihou  love,  hon- 
or and  obey  him,  in  sickness,  and  in 
health,  in  prosperity  and  adversity;  and 
forsaking  all  others,  keep  thee  only  unto 
him  so  lung  as  ye  both  shall  live?  If  so, 
then  answer,  ''I  will."* 

[Then  the  minister  shall'require'them 
to  join  i-heir  right  hands  and  say:] 

Those  whom  God  hath  joined  togeth- 
er, let  no  man  put  asunder. 

Inasmuch  as  N.  and  M  have  consent- 
ed together  in  marriage,  and  have 
witnessed  the  same  before  God  and 
these  witnesses,  I  pronounce  them  hus- 
band and  wife,  in  tl">e  name  of  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost: — 
Amen. 

'^'Ques.  Who  of  our  ministers  are  per- 
mitted^to  solemnise  marriage? 


76  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Ans.  All  ordained  ministers,  and  al- 
so those  that  have  obtained  license  from 
an  Annual  Conference,  where  the  law 
of  the  Siaie  makes  ii  the  privilege  of 
every  regularlj  licensed  minister  to  sol- 
emnise m;irriage:  and  none  are  permii- 
tf^d  to  solemnise  marriage  with  Quarter- 
It/  Conferenee  license. 

SECTION    XXIV. 

Necessity  of  Union  Among  Ourselves. 

Let  us  be  deeply  sensible  (from  what 
we  have  known,)  nf  the  evil  of  a  divis- 
ion in  principle,  spirit  or  practice,  and 
of  the  dreadful  consequences  to  our- 
selves and  others.  If  we  are  united, 
what  can  stand  before  us?  If  we  are 
divided,  we  shall  injure  ourselves,  the 
work  of  God,  and  the  souls  of  our  peo- 
ple. 

What  can  be  done  in  order  to  a  clo- 
ser union  wiih  each  other? 

1.  Let  us  be  deeply  convinced  of 
the  absolute  necessity  of  it. 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

2.  Pi'ay  earnestly  for,  and  speak 
truly  and  freely  to  each  other. 

3.  When  we  meet  let  us  never  part 
wiihoui  prayer. 

4.  Take  grant  care  not  to  despise 
each   other's  gifts, 

5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  each  oth- 
er. 

6.  Let  us  defend  each  other's  char- 
acter in  every  thing,  so  far  as  is  consist- 
ent with  truth. 

7.  Labor  in  honor,  each  preferring 
another  before  himself. 

8.  We  recomemend  a  serious  exami- 
nation of  the  causes,  evils  and  cures  of 
heart  and  church  divisions. 

SECTION     XXV. 

Visiting  from  House  to  House,  and  En- 
forcing Practical  Religion. 

Ques.  How  can  we  further  assist 
those  under  our  care.^ 

Ans.  By  instructing  them  at  their 
own  houses,  which  is  necessary  to  pro- 


78  UNITED    BRETHREN 

mote  confidence  and  communion  with 
God  among  us,  to  wean  us  from  the  love 
of  the  world,  and  to  insure  us  to  a  life 
of  heavenly  mindedness;  also  to  en- 
courage us  to  strive  after  and  practice 
brotherly  love,  thai  no  evil  thinking  or 
judging  of  one  another  be  found  among 
u?;  and  lastly,  that  we  may  learn  to  do 
as  we  would  wish  to  be  done  by. 

2.  Every  preacher  should  make  it 
his  duly  to  instruct  the  people  on  every 
occasion,  both  public  and  private;  and 
exhort  them  to  be  diligent  in  all  good 
works  and  doctrine.  Until  this  be  done, 
and  that  in  sincerity,  we  shall,  upon  the 
whole,  be  of  but  little  use,  and  our  good 
shall  be  evil  spoken  of;  therefore  wher- 
ever we  may  be,  we  should  guard  against 
useless  and  idle  conversation. 

Undoubtedly  this  private  application 
of  visiting  from  house  to  house,  and  ex- 
horting the  people,  is  found  or  implied 
in  these  sole.nnn  words  of  the  Apostle: 

"1  charge  thee,  therefore,  before  God, 
and  the  Lord  Jesus    Christ,   who  shall 


DISCIPLINE.  79 

judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  ap- " 
pearino;,  and  his  kingdom;  preach  the 
word;  be  instant  in  season,  out  of  sea- 
son; reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all 
long  suffering  and  doctrine/' — 2  Timo- 
thy,  4:  1,2. 

SECTION    XXVI. 

INSTRUCTION  OP  CHILDREN. 

What  shall  be  done  to  benefit  the  ri- 
sing generation  1 

Let  him  who  is  in  any  way  zealous 
for  God,  and  ihe  souls  of  men,  begin  the 
work  without  delay.  Wherever  children 
are  found,  meet  them,  as  often  as  possi- 
ble; speak  freely  with  them,  and  in- 
structthem  diligently;  exhort  them  to 
be  good,  and  pray  with  them,  earnestly 
yet  simply  add  plainly,  that  they  may 
learn  lo  know  iheir  Creator  and  Redeem- 
er m  the  days  of  their  youth. 


80  UNITED    BRETHREN 

*  SECTION    XXVII. 

SABBATH  SCHOOLS. 

Ques.  1.  What  shall  be  done  for  the 
cause  of  Sabbath-schools  ? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
preacher  in  charge,  of  a  Circuit,  Station 
or  Mission,  to  preach  a  sermon  at  each 
appointment,  on  the  importance  of  Sab- 
bath-schools,— setting  forth  their  claims 
on  parents  and  children,  and  the  com- 
munity in  general, 

2.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  use  all 
proper  means  to  organize  a  Sabbath- 
school  in  each  society  and  congregation 
in  his  charge,  as  soon  as  practicable. 

3.  Also  to  solicit  funds,  (or  see  that 
some  efficient  agent  be  appointed  to  do 
so,)  to  purchase  a  suitable  library  for 
each  school  under  his  care. 

Ques.  2.  How  shall  we  ascertain 
what  progress  we  are  making  in  this 
laudable  enterprise  ? 

Ans.  1.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 


DISCIPLINE.  81 

preacher  in  charge  to  report  to  his  A.  C. 
the  number  of  Sabbath-schools  organized 
in  his  charge  during  the  year — the  num- 
ber of  scholars  in  attendance  at  each 
school — the  number  of  teachers  em- 
ployed in  each,  and  the  amount  of  money 
collected  forSabbath-school  purposes. — 
It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  all  our 
preachers,  whether  traveling  or  local,  to 
use  their  influence  in  favor  of  this  im- 
portant enterprise. 

2.  We  v«rould  furthermore  earnestly 
recommend  to  our  Church,  the  impor- 
tance of  co-operaiion  with  the  ministry 
in  the  great  work  of  training  up  the 
youth  of  our  Church,  and  country,  in  the 
♦way  they  should  go,' — to  Sabbath- 
school,  to  virtue,  and  to  God. 

SECTION  xxvni. 

Doctrinal  Publications. 

No  one  of  our    preachers  or   laymen 
shall   become  the  author  of  any  dociri- 
6 


82  UNITED    BRETHREN 

nal  book  or  pamphlet,  in  a  printed  form, 
■without  the  approbation  of  ihe  Annual 
Conference,  or  of  a  connmittee  chosen 
by  the  same.  And  if  any  preacher  or 
laynnan  violates  this  rule,  he  shall  be  ac- 
countable to  ihe  class,  or  ihe  Quarterly 
or  Annual  Conference,  as  the  case  mav 
be. 

SECTION     XXIX. 

Oaths. 
We  believe  that  the  mode  of  testify- 
ing to  the  truth  when  required  so  to  do, 
in  a  legal  form,  by  way  of  affirmation, 
is  on  us  solemnly,  conscientionsly,  and 
fully  binding  before  God  to  tell  the  truth, 
the  whole  truth  and  nothing  but  the 
truth. 

SECTION    XXX. 

Ardent  Spirits. 
The  distilling,  vending,  and  use  of  ar- 
dent spirits  asa  beverage,  shall  be,  and  is 
hereby  forbidden  throughout  our  society; 
and  should  any  preacher,  exhorter,  lead- 
er, or  layman,  be  engaged  in  distilling, 


DI6CIPLIx\E.  83 

vending,  or  using  ardent  spirits  as  a  bev- 
erage, he  shall  be  accouutab  e  lo  the 
class  the  Qjarierly  or  Annual  Confer- 
ence to  which  he  belongs.  If  the  of- 
fending brother  be  an  exhorier,  leader 
or  layman,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
j^reacher  in  charge  lo  admonish  him  in 
meekness.  II  he  be  a  preacher,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  presiding  officer  of  a 
Quarterly  or  Annuil  Couf'.^rence  to  ad- 
monish him  to  desist  horn  his  unholy 
employment,  or  habit.  And  ifall  friend- 
ly admoniiions  fail,  such  offending  per- 
son or  persons  shall  no  longer  be  con- 
sidered me-mhers  of  our  church,  but  shall 
be  expelled  from  the  same;  provided, 
however,  that  this  rule  shall  not  be  so 
construed  as  lo  prevent  druggists  and 
others,  from  vending  or  using  it  for 
medicinal  or  mechanical  purposes. 

SECTION     XXXI. 

Free  Masonry. 
Free    Masonry  in  every  sensp  of  the 
word    shall  be    totally  prohibited,    and 
there  shall  be  no  connection  with  secret 


84  UNITED    BRETHREN 

combinations,  (a  secret  society  is  one 
whose  initiatory  ceremony  or  bond  of 
union  is  a  secret)  and  any  member  found 
connected  wiih  such  a  society  shall  be  af- 
fectionately admonished,  iwice  or  thrice, 
by  the  preacher  in  charge;  and  if  such 
member  does  not  desist  in  a  reasonable 
time,  he  shall  be  notified  to  appear  be- 
fore the  tribunal  to  which  he  is  amen- 
able, and  if  he  siill  refuse  to  desist, 
shall  be  expelled  from  the  Church. 

SECTION    XXXII. 

Slavery. 

All  slavery,  in  evrry  sense  of  the 
word,  is  totally  prohibited,  and  shall  in 
no  way  be  tolerated  in  our  Church. — 
Sh'  uld  any  be  found  in  our  society,  who 
hold  slaves,  they  cannot  continue  as 
mrmbers  unless  they  do  personally  man- 
umit or  set  free  such  slaves. 

And  when  it  is  known  to  any  of  our 
ministers  in  charoe  ol  a  circuit,  station, 
or  mission,  that  any  of  its  members  hold 


DISCIPLINE.  85 

a  slave  or  slaves,  he  shall  admonish  such 
members  to  manumit  such  slave  or 
slaves;  and  if  such  persons  do  not  take 
measures  tocarry  out  thediscipline,  ihey 
shall  be  expelled  by  the  proper  author- 
ities of  the  Church;  and  any  minister 
refusing  to  attend  to  the  duties  above  de- 
scribed, shall  be  dealt  with  by  the  au- 
thorities to  which  he  is  amenable. 

SECTION    XXXIII, 

•War. 

Resolved,  That  we  believe  the  spirit 
which  leadsmen  to  voluntarily  engage 
in  national  warfare,  is  unholy  and  anti- 
chrisiian,  and  ought  not  to  be  tolerated 
by  us. 

SECTION    XXXIV. 

Rules  and  Regulations  of  our  Printing 
Establishment,  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Rule  1st.  Theaboveestablishmentshall  be 
called  the  'Printing  Establishment  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ.' 

Rule  2d.  The  Legislative  authority  herein 
granted  shall  be  vested  in  the  General  Con- 
ference of  said  Church,  whose   duty  it   shall 


86  UNITED     BRETUKEN 

be  to  make  or  amend   any  rules  as   in  theii-  judg- 
ment may  seem  expedient, 

Kule  3d.  The  proceeds  of  said  establishment 
over  and  above  couiingeut  expenses  shall  be  applied 
to  the  benefit  of  travelint?,  and  worn  out  pieachers, 
and  their  widows  and  orphans.  This  divibion  to 
occar  equally, and  annually,  among  the  different 
annual  conferences. 

Rule  4th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General  Con- 
ference to  elect  five  Trustees  out  of  as  many  annual 
conferences  for  the  priuting  establishment  and  also 
elect  and  employ  Editors  and  Publishing  Agents. 

Rule  5th.  Should  a  vacancy  occur  in  the  Edito- 
rial or  agency  department,  in  such  case  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Trustees  to  employ  some  other 
suitable  person,  or  persons,  to  fill  said  vacancy 
until  the  sitting  of  the  next  General  Conference. 

Rule  6th.  In  case  a  vacancy  should  occur  in 
the  Board  of  Trustees,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Trustees  to  fill  such  vacancy  until  the  then  ensuing 
Gen.  Conference. 

Rule  7th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Trustees 
to  make  settlement  with  the  Publishmg  Agent  or 
Agents,  Treasurer,  and  Editors,  every  six  months; 
and  cause  the  Publishing  Agent,  or  Agents,  to 
make  and  publish  a  repoit  annully,  through  the 
columns  of  the  Religious  Telescope,  and  also  make 
a  special  report  to  the  Gen.  Conference. 

Rule  8th.  The  Editors  shall  strictly  perform  all 
the  duties  devolving  upon  them,  such  as  making 
selections  and  examining  manuscript  designed  for 
publication,  writing  editorial,  reading  proof,  etc. 

Rule  9th,  The  Trustees  shall  have  the  general 


DISCIPLINE.  87 

ovei'sightof  the  Editors,  and  Publishing  Ao;ent8 
and  see  that  they  do  their  duties,  aud  if  they  do 
not,  they  may  suspeud  them  until  the  sitiing  of  the 
next,  or  the  thea  eusniag  General  Conference, 
which  shall  give  final  decision.  In  aU  cases,  the 
officers  coinplaiiu  d  of  shall  be  furnished  with  a 
copy  of  the  complaints,  in  wiitiiig,  and  shall  have 
an  opportunity  of  being  heard  in  explanation  or 
defense,  before  the  Boai  d. 

llule  lOth.  The  Trustees,  as  book  committee 
are  autho'ized  to  examine,  pnrchase  aud  publish, 
or  repulish  books,  pamphlets  aud  tracts. 

Rule  11th.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Publish- 
ing Agent  to  take  charge  of  the  temporal  concerns 
of  the  office,  to  keep  all  the  books  pertaining  there- 
unto, to  furuish  at  the  discretion  of  the  Trustees, 
such  material  as  may  be  needed,  aud  to  act  as  Gen- 
eral Book  Agent,  under  the  direction  of  the  Trustees. 

Rule  12th.  The  Trusstees  shall  have  the  privilege 
of  making  any  By-laws  which  may  seem  expedi- 
ent to  them,  for  the  better  regulation  of  the  minor 
concerns  of  the  office,  provided  they  do  not  vio- 
late any  part  of  the  foregoiug  rules. 

SECTION    XXXV. 

Book  Agency. 
1.  There  may  be  one  or  more  book 
agents  appointed  in  each  Annual  Confer- 
ence Disirici,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
lake  charge  of  all  books  sent  to  him  by 
the  publishing  Agent,  and  appertaining 


88  UNITED   BRETHREN 


to  the   Conference    Printing   Establish- 
meni,  in  Dayton,  Ohio. 

2.  Said  Ageni  shall  be  accountable  to  the 
Publishing  Agent  of  said  Establishment, 

3.  It  shall  be  his  duty,  so  far  as  may 
be  safe  or  expedient,  to  distribute  to  ihe 
circuit  preachers  for  the  use  of  the 
church  all  the  books  that  may  be  sent  to 
him  by  the  Publishing  Agent. 

4.  Said  Agent  shall  keep  nn  accurate 
account  of  all  the  distributions  of  books, 
and  collections  of  money,  for  the,  and  in 
behalf  of  said  establishment.  If  books 
are  wanted  in  his  district,  he  is  to  noti- 
fy the  Publishing  Agent  by  letter;  and 
each  Annual  Conference  shall  be  re- 
sposible  for  all  the  money  or  books  in 
the  hands  of  the  agent  of  iis  own  ap 
pointing,  and  on  default  or  neglect  of 
duty  on  the  part  of  a  district  agent,  the 
Confeience  of  which  said  agent  is  a 
member,  shall  be  considered  bound  for 
any  sum  thus  delinquent,  with  interest, 
from  the  time  of  such  default  or  neglect 
of  duty.  Also,  any  district  agent,  when 
succeeded  by  another  in    office,  neglect- 


DISCIPLINE.  89 

ing  to  transfer  all  books  in  his  hands  to 
his  successor,  and  forwarding  a  receipt 
thereof,  and  closinej  up  his  own  account 
in  some  way  satisfactorily,  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  neglecting  his  duiy  in  the 
sense  above  specified.  Said  agent  shall 
receive  a  fair  perceniag^e,  as  fixed  by  ihe 
Trustees,  for  his  services,  and  be  held 
responsible  for  all  distribution  of  books 
thai  he  makes. 

5.  When  a  district  Agent  fails  to 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  disci- 
pline, ihe  Publishing  Agent  shall  inform 
ihe  Annual  Coi  ference  of  which  he  is  a 
member  or  resident  of  such  delinquency. 

6.  Said  Agent  shall  make  settlement 
with  the  Publishing  Agent,  by  letter,  or 
otherwise, every  six  months,  and  present 
to  each  Annual  Conference  to  which  he 
is  accountable,  a  full  and  complete  re- 
port of  the  true  state  and  condition  of 
his  agency,  to  be  examined  and  acted 
upon  by  Conference. 

7.  Any  Annual  Conference,  howev- 
er, may  discontinue  the  district  agency 
within  its  bounds  altogether. 


90  UNITED   BRETHREN 

SECTION    XXXVT. 

Order  'o  be   Obse.ved  in  Building. 
Meeting  Houses. 

Qties.  Is  any  ihing  advisable  in  re- 
gard to  the  building  of  Meeting  Houses? 

Ans,  Lei  all  our  Meeting  Hoiistjs  be 
buiii  plain  and  neat,  vviih  free  seais,  and 
not  m  ire  expansive  than  necessary. 

Qaes.  To  whom  are  our  Meeting 
Houses,  and  ihe  premises  belonging  to 
them,  to  be  deeded? 

^715.  To  a  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
their  successors  in  office,  in  trust,  as  the 
property  of  the  Church  of  the  s,nited 
Brethren  in  Christ. 

Ques.  How  is  a  Board  of  Trustees 
to   be  constituted? 

Ans.  Whenever  it  is  contemplated 
by  a  society,  to  purchase  or  to  build  a 
Meeting  house,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  a 
leader  or  steward  of  such  Society  to 
make  it  known  to  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference of  the  circuit  or  station  to  which 
he  belongs,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  ap- 
point a  judicious  board    of  Trustees,   of 


DISCIPINE.  91 

not  less  ihan  three  in  number,  or  as  ibe 
law  of  the  stale,  in  which  said  housei 
to  be  built  may  direct;  provided  howev 
er,  that  none  be  required  to  serve  more 
than  four  ye^trs,  unless  indispensably 
pecessary  No  person  shall  be  consid- 
ered eligible  as  a  Trustee  for  any  of  our 
Neeting  Houses  who  is  noi  a  regular 
member  of  our  church. 

Qius.  How  are  ihe  Trustees  lo  pro- 
ceed ia  building  a  house/* 

Ans.  No  Society  shall  commence 
the  building  of  any  Meeting  House, 
without  first  getting  an  act  ofincorpo- 
raiion  where  the  law  ofthe  stale  requires 
it.  They  shall  form  an  estimate  of  ihe 
amount  necessary  to  procure  a  lot,  to 
build,  and  to  make  such  oiher  improve- 
ments as  may  be  conceived  necessary. 
And  ihey  shall  at  no  time  proceed  with 
the  building  of  a  house  of  worship,  be- 
yond the  means,  eilhei  in  hand,  or  suffi- 
ciently secured,  so  as  lo  avoid  involving 
our  houses  of  worship  any  way  in  debt; 
and  also  secure  a  lawful  title  for  the  lot 
upon  which  they  intend  lo  build. 


92  UNITED    BRETHREN 

To  hold  annual  meetings,  and  keep  a 
fair  and  regular  record  of  ihe  iransac- 
lions  of  iheir  Board,  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose,  which  shall  at  all  tinaes 
be  open  for  inspeciion  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  said  Circuit  or  Station. 

To  take  charge  of  the  Meeting  House 
property,  furniture,  premises,  burial 
grounds,  &c. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  a 
vacancy  or  vacancies  occur  in  the  B(jard 
of  Trustees? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Quar- 
terly Conference  to  appoint  a  suitable 
person  or  persons  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  any 
of  our  hou«es  are  vacant? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  Quar- 
terly Conference,  of  the  nearest  circuit, 
or  station  to  appoint  not  less  than  three 
suitable  persons  for  Trustees,  who  shall 
have  the  power  when  authorized  by  two 
thirds  of  the  members  of  that  Confer- 
ence, to  lease, 'rem  or  sell  such  meeting 
house,  and  the  appurtenances  belonging 


DISCIPLINE.  93 

to  it;  and  to  nppropriaie  the  money  ari- 
sing from  such  leaj  e,  rent  or  sale,  to  what- 
ever purpose  said  Conference  may  direct. 

The  above  rules  to  be  observed  in 
purchasing  or  building  parsonage  houses. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  our  Presiding 
Elders,  as  soon  as  convenient  toappoint 
or  sey  that  three  or  five  suitable  f  arsons 
are  appointed  with  the  consent  of  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  to  take  up  sub- 
sciiptions  to  build  or  purchase  parsonage 
houses  for  their  respective  Stations  or 
Circuits,  the  same  to  be  deeded  to  those 
three  or  five  Tru^tees,  and  their  succes- 
sors in  office,  for  the  use  ofthe  church  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  We  com- 
mand that  all  our  parsonage  houses  be 
plain,  and  located  in  some  central  place. 

Note:  — The  Trustees  should  be  care- 
ful in  all  cases  to  have  deeds  of  convey- 
ance legally  executed,  and  recorded  in 
the  county  records  where  the  property 
is;  that  is,  to  have  the  deed  made  to 
them  and  their  successors  in  offi.-e,  in 
trust,  for  the  Church  of  ihe  United 
Brethren    in    Christ,    and   to  erect  and 


94  UNITED      BRETHREN 

build  or   cau^e  to    be  built,    a  house  of  1 
worship  for  the  metribers  of  said  Church. 

SECITTN    XXXVII. 

Charters. 

Whereas  the  laws  of  certain  States  re- 
quire Churches  and  institutions  to  be  in- 
corporated, in  order  to  be  recognized 
in  law; 

Therefore,  in  such  cases,  the  quarter- 
ly Conference  of  the  respective  circuits, 
stations,  and  missions,  shall  appoint  a 
competent  commiiiee,  consisting  of  three 
— who  shall  apply  to  the  proper  source, 
for  an  Act  of  incorporation,  on  all  the 
Church  property  within  the  bounds  of 
such  circuits,  stations,  or  missions,  and 
at  the  last  Quarterly  Conference  of  each 
year  the  Presiding  Elder  shall  examine 
said  committee  in  reference  to  the  above 
subject. 

2.  When  legacies  are  bequeathed  to 
the  Church,  the  names  of  the  presiding 
Bishop?  should  be  inserted  in  the  will  of 
the  Testator,  to  be  under  the  control  of 
said  Bishops  and  their  successors  in  of- 


i  DISCIPLINE.  95 

fice,  to  be  appropriated  to  the  purpose 
^  specified  by  ihe  donors. 

SECTION    XXXVIII. 

Certificates. 

When  members  of  our  society  move 
from  one  place  to  anoiher,  they  shall 
obtain  a  certificate,  by  the  vote  of  a  ma- 
jority of  ibe  class  to  which  tbey  belong, 
signed  by  a  preacher,  or  leader,  except 
where  they  are  not  in  reach  of  a  class, 
in  which  case  any  of  our  preachers  may 
give  a  certificate  to  such  persons,  if  ihey 
are  known  to  be  in  good  standing. 
Form. 

**This  is  to  certify  that  A.  B.  is  a  member  of 
good  standing  in  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Chirst,  at 

(Dates,   &c.) 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  Conference 
district  to  another,  shall,  when  he  applies  to 
another  Conference  for  admission,  produce  a 
transfer  from  the  Conference  to  which  he  for- 
merly belong'd,  sign'd  by  the  Presiding  Officer. 

(Form  of  Transfer.) 

This  is  to  certify  that is  a  regular 

or in  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 

Christ,  of Annual  Conference,  and  ishere- 

by  transferred  to Annual  Conference  of 

said   Church. 


INDEX. 


Ardent  spirits, 82 

Bishops,  Election  and   duties  of, 67 

Book  Agency, 87 

Building  Meeting   Houses 90 

Confession  of  Faith 12 

Constitution, 15 

Constitution  of  Missionary  Society, 36 

Conference  General,  ; k.l8 

*'         Annual, S-i 

"        Quarterly, 38 

Course  of  reading, 28 

Classes, 49 

Children,  Instruction  of, .79 

Charters 94 

Certificates, 95 

Doctrinal   Publications, 81 

Elders,  eleflion  of, 59 

"        Duties  of, 65 

"        Ordination  of, 62 

"        Presiding, 66 

Free  Masonry, •••• ,84 

Intinerancy,  Organization  of, 31 

Immoral  conduct  of  Preachers, 69 

Members  in  general    44 

Marriage    ceremony, 74 

Origin  ofthe  Church, • 3 

Oaths, .82 

Preachers,  reception   of, 25 

Duties, 54 

Preachers,  (Cir.)  duties, .56 

Printing  Establishment 85 

Salaries, ,....,• , 72 

Sabbath    School, 80 

S lavery , 84 

Union,  necessity  of,   76 

Visiting  from    house  to  house, -  77 

War, - ,85 


^^•2^^  •* 


^^ 


BX9878.52.A11854 

Origin,  doctrine,  constitution,  and 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library^ 

IIIIIIIIIIIIIHI 


1    1012  00045  5966 


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